Q:  I sent you pictures of a mask a couple months ago… the Bambara mask from Mali.  Thanks for giving me great information.  Here is another of the several I have.  Again, all purchased in the 70’s from a guy in Southern Indiana.  They each appear older… Kevin, 927 A:  The patina on the front and back looks good. Probably African, but hard for me to identify. Let’s hope someone will offer a comment. Here is what I see on the back that might be helpful. It is thinly carved and has 12 holes on the top half of the edge which are probably meant to hold some kind of…

Q:   There was a consignment shop which I frequented as a college student. This mask appeared and I wanted to buy it. Had little money, so paid it off in increments. It is very light wood and as you can see had not been treated well. It has some kind of fur and a movable month. I tried looking for similar masks and could not find. Is it a Dan mask?  Mickey, 924 A:  This is one of those mixed features masks. To identify the various tribal features you would have to study mask photos from Liberia east to Cameroon. Many pieces like this are made for the tourist trade.…

Q:   I have a tribal helmet mask that my mom had and she has passed away. I only know she got it from an estate sale of a 90 yr old veteran that traveled the world. Sorry I can’t supply you with any more info, maybe you can tell me about it.  Vicky, 920 A:  This appears to be a traditional design from one of the cultures in the Democratic Republic of Congo. I’m not experienced enough to name the particular group, or the name of the ceremony it is used for. And there is always the chance that it combines characteristics of two or more ethnic groups. Another…

Bob,  In case you missed this.   Herb http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/14/travel/cnnphotos-behind-the-masks-west-africa/index.html I’m so pleased that Herb sent us the link. Behind the Masks in West Africa is a beautiful collection of 10 carefully posed portraits of ordinary people wearing different masks. They were taken by Benazir Wehelie as a Special to CNN. I hope you enjoy this little show.

Q:  I bought this male Songye Kifwebe mask a month ago from a seller in Brussels. It is a huge mask of this type. At least the biggest I’ve ever seen: 77cmX31cmX51cm, W: 3,4kg. Are this big masks used in rituals, festivals? How old do you think it is? Thanks.  Ricardo, 916 A:  The Sonye people come from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Early accounts of their Kifwebe classified them as fetishes that function as caretakers.  It is evident that the Kifwebe is a powerful social instrument probably associated with healing and rituals of mystical and transformational control. This highly abstracted design resembles nothing one would see in the real…

Q:    I got strongly interested in African tribal art two years ago when I came to Brussels. Recently I bought a Fang mask. The shape is not the common shape of Fang Ngil masks. This one in the photo is 56cmX24cm and weighs 2,4kg. Is it a true Fang mask? What kind of variety? On your value code where would it stand?  Ricardo, 907 A:  Though not common, I believe it is a true Fang mask. ln the side view you can see clearly the elegant way the concave facial area has been sculpted out of the face. The Fang do this so well. I should also point out…

Q:  Hey, I bought this mask off of EBay. The seller took over her sister’s estate. Apparently the sister had majored in anthropology and was a collector of African and Pacific Northwest Indian fetishes. The lady selling the mask did not know anything about it. I’ve looked for similar masks, but haven’t come across any. I was curious if you could shed some light on the origin of this mask.  Austin, 906 A:  You’d have a hard time finding another one of these. At first glance it is a Kple Kple mask from the Baule people of Ivory Coast, West Africa. It’s even antiqued to make it look old and…

Q:  I inherited this mask. I would like to know its origin and the period.  The material is wood, which has been polished, and the dimensions are height 24cm, width 15,5cm and depth 5,5cm. It is relatively flat.  Erik, 901 A:  Flat masks without eye holes are usually made for tourists… but not always. I have seen things like this from both Africa and the South Pacific that were used in culture. It has the feel of authenticity– as if it has been handled for many years in some tribe. I hope that Erik will double check to see if it is made of bone rather than wood. It looks…

Q:  Here is an African Lega with beard. The mask is 5″ x 7.5″; and the beard extends 7″ below bottom of mask at shortest point.  Sue, 900 A:  The first photo was sent with several others. I thought I should share it with you because it is very popular with collectors. The Lega are a large ethnic group in the one of the largest countries of Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo.  Lega masks are used as initiation objects in the Bwami society. Unlike many masks in other African cultures, the masks of the Lega are not usually worn over the face, they are attached to the body, held…

Q:  I have three masks that were purchased from a dealer in southern Indiana in 1973.  Two with detailed carving on the front, one with black paint.  All three are hand carved.  Thoughts?  Kevin, 893 A:  I only do single masks on the Ask the Mask Man blog. Of course, you are welcomed to submit another one in the next month. This one is very thinly carved, which is often a characteristic of those that are used, whereas the ones made to be sold as souvenirs and art are usually heavier. I also was impressed by the use of black lines to give emphasis to the carved decoration. This is…