This is such great art I know you will enjoy seeing it. Imagine the impact pieces like this had on European painters and sculptures in the late 19th century! The following copy from a tribal art dealer’s ad is interesting… These sculptural masks have often been identified as Yaure, a less populous group who depending on their proximity to their neighbors either speak Baule or Mande. Both Yaure and Baule art, culture and masquerade performances are closely related. The Yaure masks have similar horn like projections carved with patterns and oval heart shaped faces. The scalloped hairline and elaborately carved patterns above it, representing the coiffure, are also typical of…

  Q:  Please appraise this mask for me.  I appreciate it.  Richard, 1220 A:  We do not do appraisals as part of our free “Ask the Mask Man” service. But the Dan you sent in is a modern copy (albeit, of poor quality) of one of the most collectible masks in the world. You can read about the two basic types on page 20 of our book, Masks of the World, or go to Google for much more info. I decided to show first an old, used racer mask that, despite its condition, still shows off the exquisite proportions of this very-collectable piece of folk art. It would sell for…

Q:  These are a couple of the mask I own. I know they are from the Congo, and collected from a time when it was Zaire. One on the right used to have grass as a headpiece but it could not make the customs.  Ann, 1213 A:  I picked the one that I thought would interest collectors the most. It is from the Lele people in the West Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The more familiar Luluwa and Kuba tribes live nearby. I do not know the name or function of this particular mask. Hopefully one of our viewers might have more info to add.

Q:  I found this mask in an antique store for about $30 USD. I’m mostly interested in knowing about it as an example of a mask that might have been used in a dance or performance. I mostly collect masks that have been used in theatrical performances from any part of the world, but my budget is very small. John, 1212 A:  The Zamble is a common Guro mask that is distinctive in design and very popular in Ivory Coast, West Africa. It is a mythical male character that combines the features of a leopard and an antelope. It is usually performed with a Gu masks, which represents its wife.…

  Q:  Have you any idea which tribe this mask is from?  Derek, 1208 A:  I’m calling it a Guere. It might also come from the Kran, Wobe or We. These tribes occupy Ivory Coast and Eastern Liberia. You could search for images of them all and will probably not find a mask with a bird sticking out of its forehead. I think it is very collectible for this reason. Whether it is as old and used as it looks remains to be seen. C Save Save Save

Q:  I purchased this mask from a woman whose antique store recently went out of business. She had about 10 different masks to choose from and said she had a buyer who collected them from Africa for her. I asked if she knew any details on the mask’s origin, but she didn’t. Though the price is listed as $75, she only asked for $40. Where might this mask have originated from? Looking forward to hearing from you.  Amy, 1197 A:  You got an important addition to your low-cost African mask collection. This is called a Ngil and could have been used to embody spirits of the deceased by the Fang…

Q:  I was wondering if this headdress was made for tourists or if it was made for ceremonial purposes? I believe it to be 19th century and made by Africans. It was giving to me by my grandfather, and I know he purchased it for less than 100 dollars at an antique store. The owner had no clue how old it was so my grandfather took a chance. Hopefully its not something made for export.  Height is 28 without the base, with basket it is 34. Width is 9 inches.  Aaron, 1183   A:  This beautiful male Chi Wara Headdress from the Bamana people of Mali is used to celebrate…

Most of us call this female headdress a Nimba, but the real spelling is D’mba. When danced in a village ceremony, a tall man puts it over his shoulders and holds it by the bottom of the front legs. The neck and head show up very high off the ground. The dancers body is completely hidden by cloth and raffia. When not being danced, it can be displayed as a spirit figure. Collectors love them, but they are so big, difficult to carve and expensive to ship that we don’t see many of them in the USA. This authentic piece was sold by Sotheby’s to a museum a few years…

Q:  My grandparents got this mask in Botswana on one of their hunting expeditions. They stopped traveling 25 years ago, so I know the mask is at the very least that old. They collected 100+ masks over all the years they were traveling to different countries and since they are in their 90s now they don’t have very good memories and couldn’t provide me with any more detail than the mask coming from Botswana. The face is 9 ½” long and 6 ¾” inches at its widest point. The headpiece has a diameter of 9 ¼”. Sliced wooden sticks create the foundation for the headpiece, with a burlap-type material stitched…

Roosje:  My daughter-in-law is interested in masks. I enjoy searching for affordable art and she asked me to keep an eye open for one. I found this mask (I live in the Netherlands) in an antique store of whom the owner is retiring and selling his stock for reduced prices. I paid 40 euro for the mask. I liked it very much and thought if my daughter in law does not want it, I will keep it myself. It is now hanging on my wall 🙂  I have been searching for information and I suspect that it is a mask from the Ivory Coast, Liberia. I am curious, is it…