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Small fetish mask with incised coiffure and natural facialfeatures. The mask shows incised scarification on the forehead, nose, and cheeks. It is carved from light semi-hardwood and is stained and highly patinated.
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Small fetish figure of size with a large head showing a hole for fetish materials and shallow incised facial features including eyes, nose, mouth, and scarification marks. The figure has a thick neck and torso ending in a flared base. The arms are out from the body and end with hands joined at the navel. Animal skin and hair encircle the torso. The figure is stained and shows wear and an encrusted patination.
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Small panel mask with a convex simian face, small ears, roundeyes, a flat nose with rectangular shaped nostrils, and a large smiling mouth. The face has an encrusted white kaolin surface, and the rest of the plank has a dark black/brown encrusted surface. The mask includes a custom base.
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Standing figure with a massive head, neck, and torso. The figure has narrow, close-fitting ears decorated with large ringed earrings made from aluminum and single beads. Facial features are created through incised and raised planes and include lozenge-shaped eyes and mouth. The torso shows a protruding ridge, pointed shoulders, and short hanging arms. The figure has short legs with protrusions and non-descript feet. A hemp cord with four cowrie shells encircles the waist. The figure is carved from dense hardwood and is stained and patinated.
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A face mask with an ornate headdress known as "pwoom Itok" is used in initiation ceremonies. The headdress is composed of fabric, fiber, feathers, and cowrie shells. The mask has a simulated hairline and beard, appointed forehead, bulging, protruding eyes surrounded by perforations, a large wide nose, and a small, stylized mouth. It is coated with a black encrusted pigment.
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Face mask in the form of a stylized animal with large ear-like protrusions on the head, elephant trunk, and elephant tusks. This mask which is greatly influenced by the Baule has delicate facial features including semi-closed eyes, a long narrow nose, a small, closed mouth, small ears, scarification around the eyes, and a simulated beard. The surface is patinated and encrusted and there are traces of Kaolin on the eyelids.
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Large face mask with stylized carved hair and ornaments, large protruding eyes, flat nose, horizontal eight-shaped mouth raised scarification and perforations below the eyes. The mask which shows great age and wear has an encrusted surface.
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Standing female figure of extremely ornate design. The figure has a large head surmounted by a tall complex headpiece, naturalistic facial features, a long neck, swollen breasts and abdomen, thin arms and legs, a large apron, and large feet. The entire figure is covered with raised scarification. It is carved from hardwood, is stained and patinated, and is coated with a red-brown powder (tekula).
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Standing male Butoka society figure of long cubistic form. The figure has a long head with a small top knot, a thick neck, very short arms, a long torso with a flared lower portion, male genitalia, and non-descript legs and feet. The face is simple with curved eyes, a long nose, and a small mouth with simulated teeth. Half of the face is painted red and the other half white kaolin. The figure is carved from hardwood, has a honey-colored patina, and is covered with red splotches. It is on a custom base.
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Face mask of deep form with natural facial features. The mask has a carved cap or hat with incised designs. Facial features include a heart-shaped face with coffee bean eyes, a strong nose, a mouth with carved upper teeth, and a pointed chin. The mask is painted with kaolin and accented with a red-brown natural pigment. The paintwork is discolored, worn, and encrusted.
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Face mask with a simple stylized coiffure, small C-shaped ears, oval eyes, a long nose with extensive notches, and an open mouth of muzzle shape. The mask which is carved from semi-hardwood has a red-brown encrusted surface with areas of black-brown pigment and a black patina; it shows extensive repairs which were done in the culture.
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Standing male medicine or healing figure with a large head containing a stylized headpiece with a hole drilled for fetish material. Facial features include coffee bean-shaped eyes and a large bulbous nose. The thick torso shows its arms and hands joined at the upper chest in a gesture of respect. The remainder of the body shows genitalia and non-descript legs and feet.
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Highly-stylized standing male fetish figure with a large animal horn mounted on top of its head and an animal skin skirt with a fiber belt. This well-carved figure shows a large head with classic Songye facial features including a smiling mouth with carved teeth and a square chin/beard, arms, and hands touching the abdomen, square ankles, and long feet standing on a dome-shaped base. The figure is carved from hardwood,
and is stained and patinated.
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Highly-stylized divination instrument composed of a large head and neck mounted on top of two bowed legs with feet resting on a dome-shaped pedestal. The face is of typical form with down-turned closed eyes, a wide nose, a large smiling mouth with carved teeth, and a square chin simulating a beard. The object is coated with a mixture of kaolin and palm oil, which is discolored and worn. Additional decoration includes neck beads and painted-over fiber cord.
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Face mask with fiber and cloth hood (rigid). The mask showsan incised coiffure and incised facial scarification. It shows half-moon-shaped ears a wide nose and a horizontal figure eight-shaped mouth with carved teeth. The large coffee-bean-shaped eyes are coated with kaolin. The mask is carved from hardwood and is stained and patinated.
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Face mask of oblong shape with large protruding, circular ears. The mask has a domed forehead, rectangle-shaped eyes, a long-dominant nose, and a large open mouth showing animal teeth. The mask is painted with a mixture of kaolin and palm oil and is accented with large geometric areas of brown-black pigment.
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A hat is worn by senior members of the Bwami society. It is constructed from wood and fibers and is covered with cowrie shells. There is a hanging superstructure made from fibers. Additional decorations include a chin strap made from fiber and covered with buttons, multi-colored beads, and nut pods.
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Standing female figure of the Bwami society with a large head, long torso with a vertical line of notches on both sides (front and back), prominent female genitalia, no arms but legs with large box-like feet. The face is heart-shaped with coffee bean-shaped eyes, a naturalistic nose, and a small slit-like mouth. A large hole has been drilled on the neck, below the head. The figure is carved from dense hardwood, is stained a warm honey color, and is highly patinated. The face shows areas of old kaolin.
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Face mask of oval form with an incised coiffure and an incised design on the forehead. The mask which is used in circumcision rites has small protruding horizontal ears and narrow slanted eyes; the nose is long and is of simple form, and the mask shows a small open mouth. It is stained dark brown and has a glossy patina, and shows signs of great wear.
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Face mask of flat form with almond-shaped eyes, not ear, along with the nose, and a large open mouth with simulated teeth. The lower part of the face has a stepped-down plane. The mask is stained and patinated and is covered with brown and white paint splotches.
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Standing male figure of highly-stylized form with cowrie shell eyes. This ancestor figure, which shows strong influence from the Hemba and Kusu, has an elaborate coiffure, the outline of a beard, cubistic arms and torso, and heavy legs and feet. It is carved from dense hardwood and shows a polished, dark surface.
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Long iron knife with a hardwood handle wrapped with copper wire and a hilt in the form of a long human head with a domed headpiece, realistic facial features, and scarification on the forehead and nose. The handle and terminal are stained and highly patinated. The iron blade is extremely old.
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Well-carved ceremonial spoon with an open-work stem or shaft and a terminal in the form of a head with an elaborate coiffure. The face shows almond eyes, an open mouth, and scarification on the cheeks and forehead. It is carved from hardwood, is stained, and highly patinated.
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Small simian-form mask known as "soko muntu," which is worn with an elaborate costume during funeral rites and celebrations. Mask has a large crescent-shaped mouth, a long nose, and heavy-lidded eyes. It is carved from hardwood and is coated with a crusty surface.
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Face mask of oval form with a simple cap/hat and nondescript ears. The mask has small rectangular eyes a long flat nose and a large open mouth showing long teeth; it has perforated scarification along with eyebrows, nose, and cheeks and has deeply-cut scarification along the lower face and chin. The mask is carved from hardwood, stained and patinated, and coated with red-brown clay.
