Senufo Kpelie Mask

This is a hand-carved West African mask, identified as a Kpelie mask, traditionally created by the Senufo people of Ivory Coast, Mali, and Burkina Faso. The mask is carved from a single block of dense, dark hardwood with a polished brown patina. It features characteristic Senufo aesthetic elements, including an elongated oval face with narrow slit eyes, a long slender nose, and a small protruding mouth. Surrounding the face are various symbolic appendages, including horn-like projections at the top and bottom, and flat rectangular 'ears' or flanges on the sides decorated with geometric incised patterns. A distinct crest, likely a bird or hornbill figure (Senufo symbol of fertility), tops the head. The surface exhibits intricate scarification-style carvings on the forehead and cheeks. In terms of condition, the mask shows evidence of significant age, with multiple surface abrasions, small nicks on the edges of the carved appendages, and an uneven finish that indicates heavy handling and oxidative aging. There are no visible maker's marks or signatures, which is typical for traditional ritual objects. The craftsmanship is of high quality, demonstrating specialized knowledge of anatomical distortion and symbolic abstraction typical of the mid-20th-century artisan tradition intended for ceremonial use or the early African art trade.

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