Senufo peoples; Côte d'Ivoire
Wood, horn, fiber, cotton, feather, metal, sacrificial material
H. of mask 14 1/8 in. (35.9 cm)
The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Purchase, Nelson A. Rockefeller Gift, 1965 (1978.412.489)
Small, finely carved face masks are worn at funerals by members of Poro, the Senufo men's society. The masks feature a delicate oval face with geometric projections at the sides. Their smooth, glossy surfaces are ornamented with raised and incised scarification patterns. The leglike forms at the base of the face allude to a traditional hairstyle worn by Senufo women. Considered feminine, the masks honor deceased Senufo elders with their grace and beauty and complement the aggressive male character of Senufo helmet masks. The feathers and animal horns attached to this example are unusual and may have served to enhance the mask's power to combat negative forces in the community.
