Cap mask

Object Details

Bassa artist

Label Text

Although this mask is the senior entertainment mask of the men's No association, it emphasizes desirable traits for women to emulate through its graceful, smooth dance style. It was not worn in front of the dancer's face but was attached to a basketlike frame that was concealed by the costume and fully covered the dancer's head. The wearer looked out from under the mask through openings in the costume.

Most examples have a stained black surface that differs from the natural aged wood of this piece.

Description

Wood mask, in a concave oval shape, with a pointed chin, cross hatched hairstyle with projecting pegs, a cross hatched band across the forehead, between the eyes and on the nose and chin, with a triangle from the corner of the eyes to the ear. Four bone teeth extend from the protruding mouth.

Exhibition History

The Walt Disney-Tishman African Art Collection Highlights, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., May 21, 2009-June 4, 2014

African Vision: The Walt Disney-Tishman African Art Collection, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C., February 15, 2007-March 31, 2009

For Spirits and Kings: African Art from the Paul and Ruth Tishman Collection, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1981

Published References

Jenke, Veronika. 2007. Explore! African Vision: The Walt Disney-Tishman African Art Collection. Exhibition booklet. Washington, D.C.: National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, p. 27.

Kreamer, Christine Mullen. 2006. "African Vision: The Walt Disney-Tishman African Art Collection." Tribal Arts 43, p. 90, no. 18.

Kreamer, Christine Mullen, Bryna Freyer and Andrea Nicolls. 2007. African Vision: The Walt Disney-Tishman African Art Collection. Washington, D.C.: National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, pp. 108-109, 156-157, fig. 38, no. 47.

Vogel, Susan (ed). 1981. For Spirits and Kings: African Art from the Paul and Ruth Tishman Collection. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, pp. 60-61, no. 27.

Content Statement

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Image Requests

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Credit Line

Gift of Walt Disney World Co., a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company

Late 19th-early 20th century

Object number

2005-6-54

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

Mask

Medium

Wood, bone, iron

Dimensions

H x W x D: 21.3 x 14.6 x 7.8 cm (8 3/8 x 5 3/4 x 3 1/16 in.)

Geography

Liberia

See more items in

National Museum of African Art Collection

National Museum of African Art

Topic

male

female

Record ID

nmafa_2005-6-54

Metadata Usage (text)

Usage conditions apply

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ys7dab71c09-e148-4a98-8e4c-fb359bb7f538