Senoufo Kpélié Mask

The Senufo people live in several countries: Côte d'Ivoire, southern Mali, and western Burkina Faso. These masks are part of the Poro male initiation society, which shapes all aspects of Senufo social life Senufo society; they are displayed at the funerals of former initiates. Verydelicate and feminine (the motif on the forehead represents the vulva), they are exquisitely crafted, as seen here—though it’s been a long time since I’veseen one this beautiful!

Beautiful antique brown and white patina (remnants of flour or kaolin). Height 42 cm, in good overall condition.

I buy only French collections—from former expatriates, collector estates, and the like—since nothing has been available in Africa for a long time now. Please feel free to contact me to negotiate the price; that is part of the tradition in the antiques trade, and I have no problem with it at all.