 Wood mask, 'Ancestor's Spirit'
$89.95
now
on sale! $80.96
A faithful replica of the renowned "White Masks of the Ogooue," this mask personifies an ancestral spirit of the Kota and Mukudji people from Gabon. Known as "Punu," the ancestral spirit is believed to guide one to the hereafter; Punu masks are reserved for important village festivities. Salihu Ibrahim hand-carves the mask of sese wood featuring half-opened eyes and slightly raised pursed lips. The forehead is embellished with a distinct diamond-shaped motif; it is crowned with a stylized hairdo. Once the mask is carved and the wood has dried thoroughly, it is treated with clay to appear like an antique piece. |
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 Wood mask, 'Fang Ceremony'
$62.95
now
on sale! $56.66
A helmet-like headdress contrasts with dark sese wood features, conferring a serious air on this elegant personage. Triangles adorn the cheek like tears and a diamond adorns the upper portion. Crafted by Salihu Ibrahim and considered therapeutic, the mask represents the Fang tribe of Gabon. Such masks are used for rituals and, above all, for the initiation of young males during the great So festival that celebrates an abundant harvest. |
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 Wood mask, 'Heart of the Party'
$59.95
An inviting smile brings to life this heart-shaped mask, traditionally worn on festive occasions by the Ogowe people of Gabon. Evans Doe Martey carves a remarkable sese wood replica, which he embellishes with beads and a jute beard. |
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 Wood mask, 'Guiding Spirit'
$89.95
now
on sale! $80.96
Ghost-like, this piece replicates the white masks of the Ogooue, of the Kota and Mukudji tribes. Known as punu in Gabonese, the mask incarnates the spirits of ancestors who return to visit the living and assist them in the hereafter. Salihu Ibrahim hand-carves a fascinating sese wood piece that is traditionally worn during special village celebrations. |
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 Wood mask, 'Happiness'
$57.95
now
on sale! $52.16
With a wide smile spread across his face, this mask symbolizes happiness. The Fang people of Gabon wear this mask during major celebrations. Evans Doe Martey carves an inspiring sese wood replica adorned with ornate brass plates and hand-painted motifs. |
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 Gabonese mask, 'Fang Celebration'
$94.95
Subtle diagonals of red, gold and black illuminate a long, slender visage. Nii Noi 'Chico' Norte carves its perfect symmetry from African sese wood. Representative of Gabon's Fang people, such masks are worn during happy celebrations. |
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 Wood mask, 'Merry Maiden'
$57.95
Merry eyes and an engaging smile characterize this mask by Victor Yao Delanyo. The slender girl wears her hair in small braids, gathered at the top of her head. The name, Gowe, means "river" (the symbol of a beautiful maiden) in the language of Gabon; such masks are displayed on stilts during ceremonies. Delanyo sculpts the piece of sese wood and finishes it with dark tan polish and black paint. |
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 Wood mask, 'Love Bird'
$79.95
The customs and traditions of the Fang people inspire Abubakari Alhassan in the creation of this mask. Carved by hand of sese wood, the mask features a bird looking downwards over an elongated face. Aesthetically minimal yet rich in meaning, this mask is used at weddings as it features the revered bird of love. |
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 Wood mask, 'Spirit Guide'
$114.95
now
on sale! $103.46
A faithful replica of the renowned "White Masks of the Ogooue," this mask personifies an ancestral spirit of the Kota and Mukudji people from Gabon. Known as "Punu," the ancestral spirit is believed to guide one to the hereafter; Punu masks are reserved for important village festivities. Salihu Ibrahim hand-carves the mask of sese wood featuring half-opened eyes and slightly raised pursed lips. The forehead is embellished with a distinct diamond-shaped motif. The face is surrounded by a patterned halo. Once the mask is carved and the wood has dried thoroughly dried, it is treated with clay to appear like an antique piece. |
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 Wood mask, 'Fang Secret Society'
$72.95
Victor Yao Delanyo hand-carves a traditional mask from the Fang people of southern Gabon. Worn by members of the Ngi, a male secret society, such elongated masks characteristically feature a heart-shaped face. Sese wood lends its rich grain and smooth surfaces to this piece, worn during initiation ceremonies and when seeking out wrong-doers. |
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 Wood mask, 'Ancestor'
$49.95
The ancestors' mask of the Chokwe people from Gabon is powerful and mystical. Kept in a safe please, it is usually brought out when a member of the community dies. Juliana Akandas honors Chokwe traditions with an expressive sese wood mask that is carved by hand. |
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 Wood mask, 'Punu Spirit'
$77.95
now
on sale! $70.16
Painted white, serene features suggest one who has passed on to the realm of spirits. The tall hairdo denotes a woman from the Punu tribe of the upper Ngoume River region of southwestern Gabon. Salihu Ibrahim carves a dramatic mask linked with peace, deities, spirits of the dead, and the afterlife, and thus with funeral rites. |
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 Wood mask, 'Beauty'
$77.95
now
on sale! $70.16
Tribal scarring adorns her smooth forehead while almond eyes beneath arched brows denote the standard of feminine beauty. Salihu Ibrahim carves a gracious visage, its symmetry adding to its enchantment. The tall hairdo identifies a woman from the Punu tribe of the southwestern Gabon. |
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 Wood mask, 'Ancestral Beauty'
$69.95
now
on sale! $62.96
Cool and beautiful, a woman's face is dignified. Tribal scarring adorns her smooth forehead while the tall hairdo denotes a woman from the Punu tribe of southwestern Gabon. Salihu Ibrahim carves a serene mask that depicts a female ancestor. |
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 Wood mask, 'Blue Crown'
$99.95
A blue crown distinguishes this enigmatic personage from the Fang people of southern Gabon. With its characteristic heart-shaped face, the finely carved mask comes from Nii Noi 'Chico' Nortey. |
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 Gabonese wood mask, 'Harvest Hopes'
$62.95
Called upon for a bountiful harvest, this fertility mask captivates with solemn dignity. Abubakari Alhassan carves the wawa wood mask by hand guided by the artistic stylizations of the Fang people of Gabon. Alhassan molds the clay face with detailed expertise before painting. |
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 Wood mask, 'Fang Earth Deity'
$57.95
now
on sale! $52.16
Rounded contours evoke fertile hills, painted with the rich colors of the African earth. Salihu Ibrahim portrays a Fang deity related to agriculture and harvest. The slender mask is venerated before new crops are placed in the ground. The tribe's settlement in Gabon is recent. For generations, the Fang were a nomadic group of hunters. |
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 Wood mask, 'Fang Harvest Deity'
$54.95
now
on sale! $49.46
A knowing smile recognizes the rhythms of the seasons. Transforming native sese wood, Salihu Ibrahim creates a Fang deity venerated at harvest time. Earth colors illuminate the smooth, slender mask, and blue motifs suggest the rippling waters of a river. The Fang tribe's settlement and farming in Gabon is recent. For generations, the Fang were a nomadic group of hunters. |
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 Wood mask, 'Bewitching Beauty'
$79.95
This bewitching mask represents a Punu sorcerer. Experts in the art of mask carving, the Punu people also revere their dead ancestors, especially females. Tradition dictates the mask of a female ancestor is to be reserved for the tribe's sorcerer. Evans Doe Martey honors Punu custom with this detailed mask, which he carves from sese wood. |
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 Wood mask, 'Fang Fisherman'
$59.95
now
on sale! $53.96
Regular features curve like the crescent moon in a gentle, smiling face. Sculpted of sese wood, the slender visage is richly incised with parallel lines. The visual texture enhances smooth fields of blue and brown in this mask by Salihu Ibrahim. He portrays a deity of the Fang tribe of Gabon, invoked by fishermen to assure a bountiful catch. |
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 Wood mask, 'Judge and Feast'
$89.95
now
on sale! $80.96
Carved in the image of a wise and solemn woman, this mask by Salihu Ibrahim is inspired by the customs of the Punu people from Gabon. Wonderfully expressive, the sese wood mask serves a judiciary function: It is used to identify the sorcerer within the clan. On special occasions however, it is also used for entertainment during festivities. |
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 Gabonese wood mask, 'Bakota Woman'
$72.95
Eric Danquah carves a beautiful portrait of a woman with multiple necklaces and a surprisingly modern coif. It depicts a woman of the Bakota tribe in Gabon. The intervention of such masks was sought for fertility, hunting, and commercial ventures. A husband could use it to guard against his wife's infidelity. |
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 Wood mask, 'Harvest Ritual'
$57.95
now
on sale! $52.16
Wearing a tall cap, this calm, slender visage breaks into a slow smile. Salihu Ibrahim transforms sese wood into an exquisite mask. Smooth contours take on deep earth hues, with fine motifs etched in regular patterns. Representative of the Fang people of Gabon, such masks are used at harvest rituals. |
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 Wood mask, 'Fang Hunter'
$54.95
now
on sale! $49.46
Long and narrow, this stylized visage gazes into the distance through narrowed eyes. Abstract motifs in blue and dark brown accentuate the features, carved and painted by hand. Working in sese wood, Salihu Ibrahim creates a mask from the Fang tribe of Gabon, where these images were consulted when the village was to change location and before going hunting. |
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 Wood mask, 'Fang Tribe Harvest'
$39.95
Smooth and round, a disk-like face seems to cry out or sing. Circular eyes open to narrow slits, defined by the rich hues of Africa's fertile soil. Finished with a lavish fringe of raffia, this mask by Victor Yao Delanyo is used during harvest time by Fang people of Gabon. |
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