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Helmet Mask

A work made of wood and sacrificial material.

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  • A work made of wood and sacrificial material.

Date:

Early/mid-20th century

Artist:

Senufo
Korhogo, northern Côte d’Ivoire
Northern Africa and the Sahel

About this artwork

Male animal-shaped Senufo helmet masks are contrasting complements to female face masks. These works together embody harmony between male and female roles. According to Anita Glaze, a leading scholar of Senufo arts, the central principle of “pairing for perfection” in such objects aims to promote unity, continuity, wholeness, and completion.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of Africa

Culture

Senufo

Title

Helmet Mask

Place

Korhogo, Département de (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1900–1950

Medium

Wood and sacrificial material

Dimensions

34 × 24 × 22 cm (13 3/8 × 9 1/2 × 8 3/4 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Anita Glaze

Reference Number

2019.1197

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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