• Home
  • Discover & Learn
  • Ask Us About Your Mask
  • About
  • Contact
Masks of the World

  • Home
  • Blog Home
  • Discover & Learn
  • Ask Us About Your Mask
  • Masks
  • Blog About
  • Home
  • Blog Home
  • Discover & Learn
  • Ask Us About Your Mask
  • Masks
  • Blog About
  • Africa

    West African mask with coins on her head

    September 18, 2015 / 1 Comment

    Q: I was given this mask as a birthday gift when I was a young teen. I have no info on it other than 9 coins embedded in rows of 3 on top of the head. The coins seem to be dated in the 1920’s and depict some sort of palm tree? Any help identifying and possible value would be appreciated, as I am 40 yrs old and have always wondered. Benny, 836 We know this mask was made in middle to late 20th century. I also see some resemblance to the work of the Ibo people in Nigeria and the Puno of Gabon. That’s a big chunk of West…

    Read More
    Troy

    You May Also Like

    Mask from Nigeria, not the Congo

    July 12, 2014

    African Lulua mask with holes

    December 31, 2018

    Ogoni masks from Nigeria

    July 20, 2018
  • Africa

    It reminds us of the Congo

    September 6, 2015 / No Comments

    Q: Hi Bob, I found this small mask at an estate sale this weekend. It is made of carved wood and measures 8″ in length, 4.5″ in width and 3″ in depth. The owner described it as a “Wisdom mask from the Congo”. Any further information would be much appreciated. Thanks, Simon, 828 A: Yes, this mask looks like it came from the Congo region. Perhaps it is a “wisdom mask.” But I don’t think we can attribute it to any particular culture or think of it as a true example of

    Read More
    Troy

    You May Also Like

    Bobo mask with beak and horns

    May 13, 2018

    Typical African masks bought by beginners

    January 16, 2021

    Yombe mask from DRC

    August 31, 2020
  • Africa

    Kota Reliquary Figure

    August 30, 2015 / No Comments

    This is a Janus reliquary guardian figure from the Gabonese Republic of West Africa. It would have been used by the Kota people in the mid-19th century. It is actually a piece of sculpture, but people who collect African masks always love them. It is made of wood, copper, brass, iron, cowrie shell and measures 23 × 12 × 5 in. This is a promised gift to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art is from Terry and Lionel Bell in honor of the museum’s 50th anniversary.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Vuvi mask from northern Gabon

    July 24, 2018

    Something different

    August 27, 2016

    Decorating vs. Collecting

    March 25, 2014
  • Africa

    Another mystery mask from West Africa

    August 1, 2015 / 1 Comment

    Q:  I have this mask I recently purchased.  All I know is the original owner got it in South Africa in the 1980s. It is about 9 inches tall. Any help would be great.  David, 818 A:  Sorry, but I can’t help you much other than to say it has the characteristics of several cultures from different parts of West Africa. Though helmet style in construction, it is too small to have been made for actual use. Probably it was intended for sale as a souvenir.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Kwere mask from Tanzania

    September 1, 2020

    Guere mask from Liberia

    July 30, 2018

    Baule Ram Mask

    March 12, 2017
  • Africa

    A version of the Senufo Kpelie mask

    July 31, 2015 / No Comments

    Q:  This mask belongs to a doctor friend who is suffering from dementia. He worked in Cameroon in the 1970s so the mask may come from that area. Unfortunately he can no longer tell me where he got it. Can you help?  Dr. G., 817 A:  Called a Kpelie, these easy to recognize masks are a creation of the Senufo people who inhabit northern Ivory Coast.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Male and female Kifwebe masks from Africa

    March 23, 2020

    West African masks in use

    January 3, 2017

    Baule mask, authentic or repro

    October 10, 2019
  • Africa

    Guro Mamiwata mask

    July 23, 2015 / No Comments

    Q:  Thank you for the help on the Dan mask yesterday. I told my friend about your website and the info you provided, and that it was a great help. He gave me this cool snake mask to figure out. Have you ever seen one like this? It measures 13″ x 2 1/2″ x 7″ and is carved wood.  Thad’s friend, 814 A:  I’m delighted to present this mask on the blog because it proves how creative African carvers can be. A mask with matching snakes crawling out of each nostril, and with great sculptural artistry, is seldom seen.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Pende African buffalo mask

    January 17, 2021

    More on African masks

    June 19, 2020

    Another water spirit from Nigeria

    October 19, 2018
  • Africa

    Dan Deangle masks are very popular

    July 22, 2015 / No Comments

    Q:  I got this mask from an antique dealer who told me it was from the Ivory Coast but I can’t find too may with the beard. 11″ tall x 7″ wide.  Wood has smooth finish on the front and unfinished back.  12 holes in the back. Leather patches under the eyes. Any help would be great. Thad, 813 A: There are regional variations among the masks of the Dan people who live in the western part of Ivory Coast and eastern Liberia, but they are generally characterized by a concave face, a pointed chin, a protruding mouth, an upturned nose and a high-domed forehead.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Central African mask with nasty smile

    November 1, 2015

    A famous women’s society mask

    October 3, 2015

    A well known mask from the Lega

    January 27, 2016
  • Africa

    Unusual African mask

    July 19, 2015 / 2 Comments

    Q:  I bought this mask from the German eBay last year for 15 euros. No info was provided and I have yet to find out anything about it. I would guess African and Ivory Coast. The backside does seem somewhat polished on the contact points. Thanks for any info in advance, you are a gent.  Jim, 810 A:  If I had to pick an area of Africa where it could come from it would be the northern DRC, formerly the Belgium Congo.

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Fabric Salampasu mask from DRC

    March 14, 2019

    Something different

    August 27, 2016

    To collect or not to collect

    January 11, 2015
  • Africa

    Nice West African mask

    July 6, 2015 / 4 Comments

    Q:  The raffia material seems authentically darkened by use; there are stains of sweat around the inner side and at the chin; it does not smell of any varnish or recent burning; the patina is even but not too even; the cloth hood at the back fell off some time ago, and was clearly covered with some light blue material; the forehead was covered with blue color stains, too, but was worn away; the dirt on the ‘hair’ seems truly old; the bird on the head has a hole onto which something was attached at some time; the raffia is attached by very corroded nails which do not seem to…

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Hemba helmet mask from the DRC

    July 19, 2020

    Bundu mask of Sande Society

    November 11, 2020

    Typical African masks bought by beginners

    January 16, 2021
  • Africa

    West African mask from somewhere

    June 30, 2015 / 4 Comments

    Q:  I recently purchased this wooden mast at auction because I found it quite striking. The mask is 24″ tall and was described as an old Songye Congo carved wooden Kifwebe mask with an unusual animal crest.  I would greatly appreciate your opinion of the mask and it’s description.  Jason, 798 A:  It is not a Songye Kifwebe mask. Nor does it resemble the work done by any of the various tribes occupying the Congo basin. The best I can tell you is that it probably was made somewhere in West Africa. It looks old and used, but almost all of the African masks we see on the market have…

    Read More
    Bob Ibold

    You May Also Like

    Traditional masquerade continues to evolve

    September 28, 2013

    Sande Society mask for women only

    July 16, 2019

    Traditional Bobo mask

    May 21, 2017
2829303132


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.

Archives

Masks of the World - 2025 ©