Ref: m-1898
Height 23 CM
Product Description
Toma passport mask from Guinea Conakry. Piece over 50 years old. delivered on base.
The Toma of Guinea are called Loma in Liberia. Among the Toma, only masks of this type emerge from their craftsmanship. They are very refined, sometimes have zoomorphic elements, the mouth is often non-existent, the eyes are limited to two slits. The wearer of the mask symbolically devours (despite the absence of a mouth) the candidates for the Poro (masculine secret society of the ethnic group) who have reached the last stage of initiation: after this symbolic death they can thus be reborn as a new member of the Poro in their own right.
Item delivered with an invoice and a certificate of authenticity.
african art masks from Africa
african art african tribal art arte africana afrikanische kunst
Product Description Toma passport mask from Guinea Conakry. Piece over 50 years old. delivered on base. The Toma of Guinea are called Loma in Liberia. Among the Toma, only masks of this type emerge from their craftsmanship. They are very refined, sometimes have zoomorphic elements, the mouth is often non-existent, the eyes are limited to two slits. The wearer of the mask symbolically devours (despite the absence of a mouth) the candidates for the Poro (masculine secret society of the ethnic group) who have reached the last stage of initiation: after this symbolic death they can thus be reborn as a new member of the Poro in their own right. Item delivered with an invoice and a certificate of authenticity. african art masks from Africa african art african tribal art arte africana afrikanisch