AFRICAN TIRBAL GUERE WOBE OUBI BETE SPIDER GLA MASK HEADDRESS IVORY COAST
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:52048 | Original/Reproduction: Original |
A Fine Guere-Wobe Oubi Spider Face Mask – Ivory Coast
ca. Mid 20th Century
Wood, leather, tacks, pigment
Height: 43.1cm (17in)
PROVENANCE:
Property from a Private London, UK Estate, 1980’s
EXHIBITED:
University of Central Missouri, McClure Archives Museum, Art & Identity, January 11-March, 18, 2016, Cat No. 14.3.1.
*Documentation on file and can accompany the artwork for historical conservation purposes.
Modern ethnology puts the Wobe and Gu...ere together under the name Wee, despite the fact that the people themselves use the old names. Confederations govern both ethnic groups - the largest is the warrior confederation which is led by a military chief, who also acts as a civil authority. In general, masks made and used by Wee and their Dan, Bassa, Guere and Wobe neighbors perform in a variety of contexts, including the settlement of disputes, communication of moral messages, and warfare. The Wee people possess numerous masks called gla, which are linked to bush and ancestral spirits. This association with a threatening, untamed world and death make the gla, by definition, dangerous. In southern Wee territory, the Oubi possess war masks that must provoke terror and create an aura of invulnerability. Their morphology suggests the suitably dangerous trap-door spider (Oubi War Mask, 2010). The present mask exhibits classic Guere-Wobe artistry and formerly of a Private London, UK Estate. Fine condition, displaying natural wear and minor age crack on top rear perimeter. Appropriate for age, origin medium.
Cf. Oubi War Mask (Accession No. EO.2001.1.4 ), Oubi peoples, Ivory Coast, Mission of A.-M. Bouttiaux, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Begium, Bete/ Guere Mask (Item No. 007), Known as the Spider Mask, La Route Des Antiquaires De Pezenas, Pézenas, France and The Skeleton Key. Dir. Iain Softley. Universal Pictures, 2005 for a comparable examples (see last three photos).
*WE WILL SHIP WORLDWIDE*
If you are outside the USA, please contact us for a more accurate shipping quote BEFORE BIDDING. Thank you.
00029
ca. Mid 20th Century
Wood, leather, tacks, pigment
Height: 43.1cm (17in)
PROVENANCE:
Property from a Private London, UK Estate, 1980’s
EXHIBITED:
University of Central Missouri, McClure Archives Museum, Art & Identity, January 11-March, 18, 2016, Cat No. 14.3.1.
*Documentation on file and can accompany the artwork for historical conservation purposes.
Modern ethnology puts the Wobe and Gu...ere together under the name Wee, despite the fact that the people themselves use the old names. Confederations govern both ethnic groups - the largest is the warrior confederation which is led by a military chief, who also acts as a civil authority. In general, masks made and used by Wee and their Dan, Bassa, Guere and Wobe neighbors perform in a variety of contexts, including the settlement of disputes, communication of moral messages, and warfare. The Wee people possess numerous masks called gla, which are linked to bush and ancestral spirits. This association with a threatening, untamed world and death make the gla, by definition, dangerous. In southern Wee territory, the Oubi possess war masks that must provoke terror and create an aura of invulnerability. Their morphology suggests the suitably dangerous trap-door spider (Oubi War Mask, 2010). The present mask exhibits classic Guere-Wobe artistry and formerly of a Private London, UK Estate. Fine condition, displaying natural wear and minor age crack on top rear perimeter. Appropriate for age, origin medium.
Cf. Oubi War Mask (Accession No. EO.2001.1.4 ), Oubi peoples, Ivory Coast, Mission of A.-M. Bouttiaux, Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Begium, Bete/ Guere Mask (Item No. 007), Known as the Spider Mask, La Route Des Antiquaires De Pezenas, Pézenas, France and The Skeleton Key. Dir. Iain Softley. Universal Pictures, 2005 for a comparable examples (see last three photos).
*WE WILL SHIP WORLDWIDE*
If you are outside the USA, please contact us for a more accurate shipping quote BEFORE BIDDING. Thank you.
00029
