Title:
Gela Dance Mask
Object Name:
Mask, Ritual
Other Name:
Mask, Dance, Gela
Place of Origin:
Bassa, Liberia, Africa
Provenance:
Aboriginal Indigenous Art.
H = 11—1/2"
W = 7—1/2"
D = 4—1/2"
Gela Mask: No — Men's Society.
"Wearer of the mask moves with feminine and elegant grace."
Characteristics: Two plane face, protruding mouth. Inset with wooden teeth, semi—closed eyes.
New Information entered 4/3/16: The Bassa tribe makes up 13.4 percent of Liberia's ethnic population.
Entertainment ceremonies: Visits of foreign dignitaries. End of boy's initiation rite.
The Arts of Tribal African — Jean Baptiste Bacquart.
Thames and Hudson, 1998. P. 25
H = 11—1/2"
W = 7—1/2"
D = 4—1/2"
Gela Mask: No — Men's Society.
"Wearer of the mask moves with feminine and elegant grace."
Characteristics: Two plane face, protruding mouth. Inset with wooden teeth, semi—closed eyes.
New Information entered 4/3/16: The Bassa tribe makes up 13.4 percent of Liberia's ethnic population.
Entertainment ceremonies: Visits of foreign dignitaries. End of boy's initiation rite.
The Arts of Tribal African — Jean Baptiste Bacquart.
Thames and Hudson, 1998. P. 25
Description:
Dance mask with elongated face, pointed chin and six—sectioned cornrow styled headress. Protruding forehead, almond—shaped eyelids, crescent—shaped pierced eyes, small wedge—shaped nose. Full open mouth with pierced center, brown patina over entire surface, holes around outer rim, small crescent—shaped ears.
Collection:
Finley Collection
Material:
Wood W/Patina
Used:
Ritually Used
Technique:
Carving / Painting
Owned:
Art Department, Missouri Southern State University
Accession#:
2014.1.40
Click to Enlarge
Front View
Right Side View
Left Side View
Rear View
Front View
Right Side View
Left Side View
Rear View