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Mask for Men's Association (probably Bo nun amuin)

19th - early 20th century (before 1912)
Not on view
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.
This zoomorphic mask entered the holdings of the University of Pennsylvania Museum in 1919 through De Zayas’s connection to Charles Vignier. Published as early as 1912 while in the collection of Joseph Brummer, it is among the oldest known masks of this genre. Like many other masks on view in the exhibition, it was stripped from its accompanying costume. Upon its removal from Africa, it was no longer considered a feared attribute of the male brotherhood do but a pure sculptural creation. In their original context, such masks combined features of several bush animals and were associated with general notions of the wilderness and masculinity. Only initiates were permitted to see them.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Mask for Men's Association (probably Bo nun amuin)
  • Date: 19th - early 20th century (before 1912)
  • Geography: Côte d’Ivoire
  • Culture: Baule or Lagoon peoples
  • Medium: Wood, paint and tacks
  • Dimensions: Length: 27 5/8 in. (70.1 cm)
  • Classification: Wood
  • Credit Line: The University of Pennsylvania Museum, Philadelphia
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing