I sometimes find nice pictures on the internet to share with my viewers. This beautifully carved Guro elephant mask represents the spirit of Gu, the wife of Zamble; a supernatural being. Gu is often depicted as an animal. The Guro revere five: the antelope, the hyena, the leopard, the crocodile and the elephant. These are animals mostly found in the Savannah and tropical forest where the 200,000-strong tribe lives. The Guro people are found in Ivory Coast; their art is closely related to those of their neighbors, the Baule’s. Why don’t you share with our viewers some scans of a mask in your collection? Bob, 1670

Q: I can’t find anything like this to see an approximate value! I got it from an estate sale of a serious collector who was needing his home cleared so he could move. I have dozens of mask/pieces that I’m trying to identify right now, so any help with this one would be greatly appreciated. Kelli, 1669 A: You have a charming mask with marvelous hair and carefully woven natural cloth. On a stand it would be especially decorative. I would call it a collectible reproduction that should be quite affordable. But I won’t reject the possibility of it being an authentic artifact. You might want to consider having an…

Q: Bought this mask 8 years ago on the streets of Manhattan for $50. Guy that sold it said it came from the Pende people of the Congo. I’m wondering, even though I believe it’s made for tourists, is it really made in Congo and shipped from there? How authentic is it? How to check that? I was drawn to this mask because it felt more like it choose me than I choose it. Nihil, 1668 A: It represents a cursed man, someone who has been struck by sickness or has had deformities cast upon him by sorcerers. The mask comes from the Central Pende region in the Bandundu province,…

Q: I got this mask at an open air market in New Orleans over 25 years ago and it has been hidden away on a basement shelf for the last 20 years. At the time I collected masks, but don’t any more. The person who sold it had two similar masks, but I only bought one. He said it was an African funeral mask…but I don’t remember any other details that he may have given. Some of the cowrie shells and stitching have come loose – I included the pictures, dust and all. I don’t know if it has any value or if there is more to the story. Brenda,…

Q: I was wondering if you could help identify anything about this mask (e.g. tribe, purpose, authenticity, date of production, type of wood). I bought it at a street market in Swakopmund, Namibia in 2017, for between $100-$150. It is wood, horn, cloth and some kind of white faded pigment. Height is about 21″ or 27″ with the raffia beard. Weight is about 5 pounds. Thanks so much for any help! Chad, 1662 A: When I wrote Masks of the World in 2014, the last chapter was titled “Beginner’s Guide” and it included a section called “Different Degrees of Authenticity.” Here is number 3 of 6 paragraphs. Decorative– This term…

Q: I’ve done as much research as I can and have found nothing similar. My story with the mask is interesting; I found it while out on a bike ride. It was sitting on a sand bar, in the middle of a river (Platte / Denver). The form caught my eye from afar and initially I thought it was a child’s car seat. It does not appear to have any water damage. The only damage is the missing piece by the eye, on one side and the two expansion/contraction cracks, in the white face one the other side. It has been that way since I came a cross it. I…