Gabon
Wood mask, 'Native Beauty'
Bakota is the name of an ancestral spirit of fertility and protection, its origin traces to the Kota people of Gabon. This mask takes the shape of a Bakota doll, its feminine grace complemented by delicate facial features and elaborate accessories.
Wood mask, 'Guiding Spirit'
A faithful replica of the renowned "White Masks of the Ogooue, " this mask personifies an ancestral spirit of the Kota and Mukudji people from Gabon.
Wood mask, 'Ancestor's Spirit'
A faithful replica of the renowned "White Masks of the Ogooue, " this mask personifies an ancestral spirit of the Kota and Mukudji people from Gabon.
Wood mask, 'Bountiful Earth'
Earth colors swirl enticingly across burnished sese wood, evoking the fertile soil and blue waters of West Africa. Carved and painted by hand, this mask represents a deity of the Fang people.
Wood mask, 'Fang Fisherman'
Regular features curve like the crescent moon in a gentle, smiling face. Sculpted of sese wood, the slender visage is richly incised with parallel lines. The visual texture enhances smooth fields of blue and brown in this mask by Salihu Ibrahim.
Wood mask, 'Heart of the Party'
An inviting smile brings to life this heart-shaped mask, traditionally worn on festive occasions by the Ogowe people of Gabon. Evans Doe Martey carves a remarkable sese wood replica, which he embellishes with beads and a jute beard.
Wood mask, 'Punu Beauty'
Almond eyes beneath arched brows represent the Punu standard of feminine beauty. Painted white, the serene features suggest one who has passed on to the realm of spirits. The tall hairdo denotes a woman from the Punu tribe of the upper Ngoume River region of southwestern Gabon.
Wood mask, 'Punu Spirit of the Dead'
A tall hairdo, closed eyes and intricate patterns on the smooth forehead characterize this handsome mask. Finished in white, the mask is linked with peace, deities, spirits of the dead and the afterlife, and thus it is used during funeral rites.
Wood mask, 'Punu Spirit'
Painted white, serene features suggest one who has passed on to the realm of spirits. The tall hairdo denotes a woman from the Punu tribe of the upper Ngoume River region of southwestern Gabon.
Wood mask, 'Blue Crown'
A blue crown distinguishes this enigmatic personage from the Fang people of southern Gabon. With its characteristic heart-shaped face, the finely carved mask comes from Nii Noi 'Chico' Nortey.