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  • Africa

    Red Mwana Pwo mask

    December 2, 2015 / 7 Comments

    Q:  I was recently in South Africa and purchased a mask in the Green Market in Cape Town. I paid around $75 for it and was impressed by the vendor’s knowledge of the different masks he had. This one especially caught my attention as it was so different than the others. I would love to know about its origins and anything else you might determine.  Alan, 865 A:  This looks like a Mwana Pwo mask from the Chokwe people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Ibo, Igbo or Igala from Nigeria

    July 17, 2013

    It certainly is African

    January 1, 2014

    Early Kuba mask with provenance

    November 12, 2019
  • Africa

    Lenape Indian helmet mask?

    November 24, 2015 / 3 Comments

    Q:  My friend purchased this ceremonial Natvie American mask from someone in the same area where we live, Schuylkill County, PA. This is what we were told: it is a Native American ceremonial “good luck” mask named the Black Eagle, probably just because of the large nose. It was said to be 100-150 years old. It was thought to be Lenape  Indian in style. Someone else told us he thought it was Seminole.  It is a lighter density wood, 13 1/2 ” high by 12″ across. It weighs only 5 1/2 pounds and is life sized to go on someone’s head. There are good luck rolling logs on either cheek.

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    Bob Ibold

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    3 African crest masks

    August 16, 2020

    Younger buyers and five figure sales mark “turning point”

    October 24, 2017

    Bete war mask

    March 2, 2015
  • Africa

    Primitive mask from the Congo

    November 23, 2015 / No Comments

    Q:  I have a lot of masks. I like to collect them. Especially African masks. A week before ı bought another one. I think it is from the Bacongo people of the DRC, and made of wood.  Actually the seller didn’t have any info on it. I bought it for 30 dollar. Could you tell me more about this mask. I hope it is old and original. Thanks.  Suleyman, 861 A:  Bacongo is a pretty good guess, but this example is crude and lacking any easily recognized features.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Odd-ball African mask

    January 11, 2017

    Bundu mask for women

    November 20, 2018

    7th Chewa Mask blog

    November 16, 2020
  • Africa

    Sande Society mask of the Mende

    November 9, 2015 / No Comments

    Q:  I just got this from a private auction.  I paid less than $100, but I consider it to be very high quality.  I already had 2 Mende helmets in my collection, both of reasonably high quality, but when I saw this, I knew it was exceptionally well done.  So I bid on it and won at a much lower price than I expected.   Aaron, 857 A:  I’m so pleased that Aaron is sharing this with us. It’s a famous helmet mask worn only by women, which is very unusual in West Africa.

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    Bob Ibold

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    Bembe circumcision mask

    June 13, 2017

    Guro antelope mask

    May 12, 2017

    Nice mask from Mali

    January 26, 2014
  • Africa

    Pwo mask from the Congo

    November 4, 2015 / No Comments

    Q: I found this mask the other day at a local thrift shop. The wooden portion is about 12″ tall, 6″ wide, and 2″ deep. It has carved decorations on the face including a swastika on each side of the chin. There is a wicker armature attached to the mask that holds the hair in place. On the inside of is what looks like sheets of moss. There is a knot, about 2″ wide, like a bun, in the hair at the top of the head. The hair is a mass of pieces of crude rope. Some of the rope ends are cut and others have large knots tied in…

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    Troy

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    Female Kifwebe mask from the Songye

    June 8, 2015

    13 Yaka masks in Brussels show

    February 8, 2018

    Okukwe mask, Galoa people, Gabon

    February 8, 2020
  • Africa

    Central African mask with nasty smile

    November 1, 2015 / No Comments

    Q: This was my brother’s, who was a catholic priest and served at least two seasons at a mission school in Kenya around 1970. Kikuyu. He may have been given this mask, along with some other things, when he left there, or he may have bought it. He also traveled around I’m sure. Mask is 13.5 in tall, wood is lightweight and looks to be blackened, maybe with a stain. John, 851 A: Neither the Kikuyu people or other groups in Kenya use masks.

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    Troy

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    Round Teke mask from Africa

    April 10, 2020

    Bozo puppet headpiece from Mali

    March 12, 2020

    Punu crest mask or reliquary head

    November 3, 2016
  • Africa

    Punu mask from Gabon, West Africa

    October 26, 2015 / 1 Comment

    Q: I have bought this mask on a second-hand market. There was no further information about it, I would be delighted to know where the mask is coming from and whether it is authentic. The mask smells like fire but there are no burn marks to see. There are traces of use, for example, to see on the inside left is a dark spot, it looks like of the face often scoured against that spot. At the 2 holes you see that the rope has left traces there. Yber, 850 A: I apologize for taking so long to answer. We have been working on this website for several weeks.

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    Troy

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    Odd-ball African mask

    January 11, 2017
    restored Epa mask

    It looks like it’s just been created

    October 18, 2013

    Beautiful mask from the Congo

    December 21, 2013
  • Africa

    A popular mask from Ivory Coast

    October 5, 2015 / No Comments

    Q: We inherited this from my grandfathers estate. It was a gift to him from one of his traveling friends. He died in 1975, so it is older than that. No other info, just curious about it. I grew up calling him “Alfred” and have fond memories of it. Katie, 846 A: If you look at this blog’s “Africa” category, you will see many masks similar to this one. It is a Kpelie mask from the Senufo people of Ivory Coast, West Africa. Its design and decorations can vary considerably.

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    Troy

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    Another mystery mask from West Africa

    August 1, 2015

    More on African masks

    June 19, 2020

    African bird mask of questionable value

    September 16, 2020
  • Africa

    A famous women’s society mask

    October 3, 2015 / No Comments

    Q: I have two Masks which I inherited and that I would like a quote on for an appraisal. Hopefully you can help me with this. Here is the 1st mask. Thanks, Len, 845 A: I will be glad to appraise your two masks and will respond separately. In the meantime, I want our viewers to see this Sande Women’s Society helmet mask made by the Mende people of Sierra Leone, and used for various rights of passage in that culture.

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    Troy

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    Beaded elephant mask

    April 24, 2018

    Souvenirs vs. Traditional Art

    May 28, 2015

    Masquerade during the pandemic

    December 11, 2020
  • Africa

    From somewhere in West Africa

    September 28, 2015 / 2 Comments

    Q: I was wondering what the origins of this particular mask are. A friend of mine acquired it through a house clearance shop but we cannot really tell you anything about where it came from. The hollowed out rear seems to have been burned out, as it is blackened by soot. It is also made of a quite strong smelling wood, possibly to do with age. This specimen is about a foot in total length, from chin to top of the hair. Thank you in advance. Perry, 843 A: This is a black helmet mask that combines many features of various West African cultures.

    Read More
    Troy

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    One of my favorite masks… Chewa

    January 13, 2019

    A mask that changed the art world

    July 5, 2018

    Ville or Yombe from the DRC

    February 25, 2018
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Quiz - Test Your Mask Knowledge

Click Here Take The Quiz

Mystery Mask Value Code

A - high value*

B - collectible*

C - decorative art

D - low value

* A and B do not always imply higher dollar value. Most masks get a C or D, however I usually don't post them.

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