This is the rating and price for Lot Of 6 Early 20Th C. African Guro Painted Wood Masks

Description : West Africa, Ivory Coast, Guro culture, ca. early to mid 20th century CE. A stunning ensemble of six hand-carved wooden masks, all with broad noses and petite ears and painted in hues of crimson, rich rosewood, pink, teal, blue, white, and black. Four of these intriguing vizards present slit eyes, open mouths showing a top row of teeth, and dashes of ceremonial scarification across their cheeks and foreheads. The rosewood-colored mask also shows slit eyes, however it has a petite closed mouth with bowed lips. Boasting a decorative zigzag border, the last visor displays gritted teeth and half-moon eyes under an arched brow. All six of the masks are topped with elaborate headdresses, five of which bearing zoomorphic figures. Size: 9.125 W x 18 H (23.2 cm x 45.7 cm) These masks would have been part of a group of masks considered a family. According to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, In Guro culture, distinctions are made between masquerades that are the focus of cults and those that are more secular in nature. A sequence of three sacred masks centers around Zamble, a mythical male being whose form fuses antelope and leopard features. He is in turn complemented by his beautiful wife, Gu, and his wild, grotesque brother, Zuali. Such representations are owned by certain families that use them as the loci of sacrificial offerings proposed by diviners to improve their well-being. In contrast, other Guro mask forms, which serve only as sources of entertainment, are designed by individual performers. Provenance: ex-Phoenicia Holyland Antiquities, New York, New York, USA All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #162648
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