Product Description
Ngere Krahn Mask – Liberia / Ivory Coast
A powerful and Authentic mid 20th century Krahn mask made of hard wood, with brown patina and pigment. The face has a very complex structure and might be identified to the baboon. It has scarifications and a large square tubular mouth. The surface shows a thick encrustation. It originates from Liberia.
Made of 100% Polychrome wood, pigments.
Model is W 20 – H 15 and weight 1.4 kg.
Description
A powerful and Authentic mid 20th century Krahn mask made of hard wood, with brown patina and pigment. The face has a very complex structure and might be identified to the baboon. It has scarifications and a large square tubular mouth. The surface shows a thick encrustation. It originates from Liberia. Typically, Krahn female masks are viewed as less imposing and more beautiful than male masks and are in turn used more for ritual and entertainment purposes, while the male masks are often more ferocious-looking and serve roles in sociopolitical issues. That said, all Wee masks are believed to deflect sorcery attacks, and many undergo shifts in their primary function during their lifetime. The We believe that the baboon mask reflects the ‘wild’ side of mankind, uncivilized, anti-social and dangerous.
The Krahn in Liberia were originally hunters, farmers, and fishermen, traditionally focusing on rice and cassava production. The Krahn people believe that objects inherit a spirit or soul. This is also the reason for them to make offerings to the spirit whenever new land requires cultivating for fields or expansion. Some sources believe that the Kru saw their artworks as living entities typically found in small bodies of water such as rivers and creeks. Called ‘tien’,’nitien’ or ‘Dwin,’ these artifacts would have been viewed as water spirits or ‘Gods of water. Additionally, it is believed that powers associated with these beings included healing, fertility, and the ability to end conflicts and create new villages. The Kru also thought that a town or village could gain protection from one of these water guardians if they were caught in the water and carried into town.
Krahn is an ethnic group of Liberia and Ivory Coast. This group belongs to the Kru language family and its people are sometimes referred to as the Wee, Guéré, Sapo, or Wobe. It is likely that Western contact with the Kru language is the primary reason for the development of these different names. The term Krahn may also be applied to denote the language spoken by this ethnic group.
Additional information
Weight | 1.4 kg |
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Dimensions | 20 × 15 cm |
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