Gabon - Kwele Mask (Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC)
Kwele masks are very rare and their function is virtually unknown. Some show no signs of having been worn and may have been displayed only on ceremonial occasions. In this mask, the effect of the solids and spaces, the repetition of the shapes, and the lack of mouth all combine to transport the spectator into the world of the spirits and the sacred.
The perfect swoop of the whitened concave face is interrupted in the center by the nose. Against this depression the coffee bean eyes stand out sharply. This mask has two long horns that curve around the face and admirably echo its shape. The shapes are played off against one another with a crispness and elegance that are a marvel to behold. These masks are remarkable for their extraordinary beauty and the wealth of psychological connotations.
Copies of these masks are readily available in a large variety of designs. Some are very nice.
Gabon - Kwele Mask (Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC)
Kwele masks are very rare and their function is virtually unknown. Some show no signs of having been worn and may have been displayed only on ceremonial occasions. In this mask, the effect of the solids and spaces, the repetition of the shapes, and the lack of mouth all combine to transport the spectator into the world of the spirits and the sacred.
The perfect swoop of the whitened concave face is interrupted in the center by the nose. Against this depression the coffee bean eyes stand out sharply. This mask has two long horns that curve around the face and admirably echo its shape. The shapes are played off against one another with a crispness and elegance that are a marvel to behold. These masks are remarkable for their extraordinary beauty and the wealth of psychological connotations.
Copies of these masks are readily available in a large variety of designs. Some are very nice.