Miniature mask
Across present-day Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, individuals have commissioned a variety of miniature masks for personal use. These range in style from finely detailed to highly schematic, depending on their intended purpose. Many are replicas of specific masks used in performance. When prescribed by a diviner for preventative or curative purposes, these miniatures draw upon the power and protective force of the original mask. Individuals with family ties to a known mask may also commission reproductions to accompany them during their travels as a form of identification. Attendees of restricted council meetings sometimes carry these as proof of belonging. Other miniatures are carved for spiritually gifted children or used as teaching aids during initiation camps.
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