Long face mask
20th century, 1920–50
Object PlaceLiberia; Guinea
Medium/TechniqueWood, fur, metal, encrustation
DimensionsOverall: 36 x 14 x 12.5 cm (14 3/16 x 5 1/2 x 4 15/16 in.)
Credit LineGift of Geneviève McMillan in memory of Reba Stewart
Accession number2009.2702
On View
Not on viewClassificationsSculpture
Collections
The elongated features, narrow-set tubular eyes, arched eyebrows, and incised lines along the side of the face, representing scarifications, suggest that this mask can be attributed to the Konor, northern Mano, or Kpelle peoples, who live near each other in Guinea and Liberia. The fur beard once covered an attached movable jaw. Similar masks belonged to men's associations and appeared during judicial proceedings.
Inscriptionswhite adhesive label inside back: "28(42)"
red bordered paper label with black marks: "D 13"
in ink at top center: "J"Provenance1947, sold by Galerie Carrefour, Paris, to Geneviève McMillan (b. 1922 - d. 2008), Cambridge, MA; 2008, to the Geneviève McMillan and Reba Stewart Foundation, Cambridge; 2009, gift of the Geneviève McMillan and Reba Stewart Foundation to the MFA. (Accession Date: June 17, 2009)
