A horned Guro mask

Estimated price  600 - 800 €

A horned Guro mask, Ivory Coast, of the region of Sinfra.

The Guro mask from the Ivory Coast, particularly from the region of Sinfra, is a traditional artifact created by the Guro people, a subgroup of the Mande ethnic family in West Africa. These masks are integral to ceremonial life and are used in various rituals including funerals, initiations, and harvest celebrations. They serve both aesthetic and spiritual purposes, believed to connect the living with the spirit world and to embody protective and ancestral forces.

Guro masks are known for their elegant craftsmanship, often featuring a harmonious balance of human and animal traits. Common features include narrow faces, elaborate hairstyles, and elements inspired by animals such as antelopes, birds, and snakes. These elements symbolize various virtues like beauty, strength, and wisdom.

Masks are typically carved from light wood and painted in vivid colors, sometimes adorned with materials such as cloth, metal, or animal hair. In Sinfra, the masks reflect local styles and are often more refined in detail, indicating a strong continuation of traditional carving techniques and symbolic storytelling.

Guro mask, Ivory Coast, of the region of Sinfra, auction houses, museum, art galleries

Guro masks from the Sinfra region of the Ivory Coast are highly valued in both traditional African art circles and the international art market. These masks have been featured in numerous museum collections, art galleries, and auction houses around the world.

In auction houses such as Sothebys Christies Bonhams and Artcurial, Guro masks are regularly presented as part of African and tribal art sales. Their intricate design, cultural significance, and rarity make them sought-after by collectors. Provenance, age, condition, and stylistic features all influence their market value.

Museums with notable collections of African art often include Guro masks. Institutions like the Musée du quai Branly in Paris, the British Museum in London, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art in Washington, D.C. have exhibited Guro masks either as part of permanent collections or special exhibitions focusing on West African art.

Art galleries that specialize in African art, such as Galerie Afrique in Paris or Pace African & Oceanic Art, also feature Guro masks. Wolfgang Jaenicke.These galleries often present the masks not only as collectible objects but as cultural artifacts with deep meaning and historical context.

The presence of Guro masks from Sinfra in these venues underscores their importance as both art objects and living symbols of the cultural heritage of the Guro people.

wj

Price on request.

Height: 41 cm
Weight: 1,7 kg (incl. stand)