Yohure Mask with Hornbill on Top Cote D’Ivoire

Description

Masks are a window into the soul of a culture, and provide us with great conversation pieces for the home. Putting on a mask is a transformative experience. It allows us to be someone we’re not for a moment, changing both how we see ourselves and how we behave outwardly. African masks & statues are possibly the most admired and well known art form of Africa. They are both idea and form. The artistry of African masks is self evident but, for the people who create them, they have a much deeper meaning than surface beauty. African Masks are believed to embody the spirit of an ancestor, and symbolize a message of wisdom, prosperity, security, and power. Stylish elements in a mask’s looks are codified by the tradition and may either identify a specific community or convey specific meanings.

This mask has an ornately carved hornbill on top, the dominant feature of the piece.  The hornbill is a revered animal in several cultures across Africa.   The facial features of the mask are typical of Yaure carving: crescent eyes, pursed lips and heart-shaped face.  And most difinitive is the serated beard around the jawline. The Yohure are a smallish Akan culture, closely related to the Baule and Guro. Their masks, like the one offered here, are similar in style to those of both groups, but usually have a few defining elements to aid in their identification. The Yohure used two types of masks, those that were black and those that were brightly painted. The darker ones are highly-prized by collectors for their stark beauty. Known as “lo” masks, their purpose was to appease supernatural powers known as “yu.”