Tehe Gla mask, Wè, Guéré- Wobé) Wè, Ivory Coast, Liberia - Lot 6

Tehe Gla mask, Wè, Guéré- Wobé) Wè, Ivory Coast, Liberia Wood, plant fibers, ties Height: 31 cm Provenance : Photo of the object circa 1930 in a French collection French private collection --- Mask tehe Gla, Wè, Guéré- Wobé) Wè, Ivory Coast, Liberia Wood, plant fibers, links Height: 31 cm Source: Photo of the object around 1930 in a French collection French private collection Formal testimony to the eminently bold and striking plastic design and expressionist power of Wè and Guéré war masks. Common to all the peoples of south-west Côte d'Ivoire, the institution of the war mask was part of a war phenomenon that, "beyond its real stakes, covered a vast cultural field" (Dozon, 1985, p. 172). The various societies governing the community claim a history of warlike practice and ideology, and the powerful institution of masks to which this phenomenon gave rise originated with the Wè/Guéré peoples, whose masks, with their deliberately terrifying figures, features and exhibiting volumes, constitute the archetype. The mask imposes itself by bringing to a climax the aesthetics of strength, the inventiveness of its form, through the play of dimensions and projections in space of the elements of the face, springing from its surface. The concentration of rhythm and the free interpretation of forms "bring out the unknown rather than ordering the known" (Georges Meurant, 2008, p. 141). --- Formal testimony of the highly bold and striking plastic design and expressionist power of the Wè and Guéré war masks. Common to all the peoples of South-West Côte d'Ivoire, the institution of the warrior mask was part of a war phenomenon that covered, "beyond its real stakes, a vast cultural field" (Dozon, 1985, p. 172). The various societies governing the community claim the history of a practice and a warlike ideology, the powerful institution of masks that this phenomenon gave birth to originates from the Wè/Guéré peoples, whose masks with a deliberately terrifying figure, with its striking features and volumes, constitute the archetype. The mask is imposed by bringing to its climax the aesthetics of force, the inventiveness of its form, through the play of dimensions and projections in the space of the elements of the face, springing from its surface. The concentration of rhythm and the free interpretation of forms make "the unknown emerge rather than ordering the known" (Georges Meurant, 2008, p. 141). Underneath the rounded forehead, a thick white residual crusty patina appears around the eyes and nose. The face is slightly missing. Dismembered mouth attachment cord probably replaced. Slight cracks on forehead. --- Under the bulging forehead appears a residual white and thick crunchy patina, on the circumference of the eyes and nose. Some slight gaps on the entire face. Probably replaced dismembered mouth tie cord. Slight cracks on the forehead.