SENOUFO - Republic of Côte d'Ivoire. - Lot 11

SENOUFO - Republic of Côte d'Ivoire. Ancient mask from the Poro society, featuring a stylized head with a cubic, projected open jaw, adorned at each end with warthog teeth. The upper part is marked by a raised median line, delimiting a zigzag incised decoration. The mask's stylized forms are a testament to its modernism. Wood, traces of white pigments and red ochre, old brown patina and internal wear marks. Height with base: 73 cm. Without base: 56.5 cm. Provenance: former Galerie d'Art Africain, Paris, 1984-1994. Poro masks, such as this one, play an essential role in Sénoufo initiation rites, helping to transmit cultural, spiritual and social values. Their pure, geometric forms reflect an aesthetic that has influenced modern art, while embodying a profound symbolism linked to community and nature.