HLK 0415-1

Guro “Kweni “ Mask, Ivory Coast

H: 50 cm (19″) W: 20 cm (7,3“)

Painted Wood

This beautifully carved and painted Guro mask represents the spirit of Gu, the wife of Zamble; a supernatural being. Gu is often depicted as elegant, graceful, serene and beautiful. An important characteristic in Guro art is a skillful combination of human and animal forms.

Notable features on masks are obliquely placed almond-shaped eyes, rounded foreheads, finely sculptured nose and mouth with small but sprouting lips. Hairdos and headdresses are delicately sculptured and elaborate.

Of all animals, the Guro reveres five: the antelope, the hyena, the leopard, the crocodile and the elephant. These are animals mostly found in the savannah and tropical forest where the 200,000-strong tribe lives. The Guro people are found in Ivory Coast; their art is closely related to their neighbors, the Baule’s. In fact, Guro is a Baule name; the actual indigenous name of the tribe is Kweni.

In Guro culture distinctions are made between masquerades that are the focus of cults and those that are more secular in nature. A sequence of three sacred masks centers around the Zamble, a mythical male being whose form fuses antelope and leopard features. He is in turn complemented by his beautiful wife, Gu, and his wild, grotesque brother, Zuali. Such representations are owned by certain families that use them as the loci of sacrificial offerings proposed by diviners to improve their well-being. In contrast, other Guro masks serve only as sources of entertainment and are designed by individual performers.

Age: Est. beg. of 20th Century

Provenance: Private Danish collection. Bought from Galerie Darrell in 1972

Literature: Elisabeth Skidmore, “The World of Spirits and Ancestors”

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