Senufo
Korhogo, northern Côte d'Ivoire
Northern Africa and the Sahel
Helmet Mask
INV-2492
Senufo
Korhogo, northern Côte d'Ivoire
Northern Africa and the SahelEarly/mid-20th century
senufoArts of Africaafrican ArtNorthern Africa and the Sahelmasksarts of Africa
Date
Early/mid-20th century
Medium
Wood and sacrificial material
Dimensions
28 × 15.3 × 47 cm (11 × 6 × 18 1/2 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Gift of Anita Glaze
Male animal-shaped Senufo helmet masks are contrasting complements to female face masks. These works together embody harmony between male and female roles. According to Anita Glaze, a leading scholar of Senufo arts, the central principle of “pairing for perfection” in such objects aims to promote unity, continuity, wholeness, and completion.
Also notable
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