WE/GERE/WOBE PASSPORT MASK Liberia 11 cm. high Provenienz Bodes & Bode, The Hague Amongst the We small masks are called kruwue and could serve a number of differect functions (Fischer, E. and Himmelheber, H., The Arts of the Dan in West Africa, 1976, p.107). The owner of an important large mask has the right to commission a miniature mask which can stand in for the large mask and maintain the owner’s contact with the mask-spirit and also serve as a form of identification when he is away from his community. Although women are prohibited from owning large masks they may own a small one. A daughter in a family with a particularly close association with a mask spirit might commission a small mask to take with her to her new home following her marriage in order to maintain her association with the mask spirit. Miniature masks also play a role in secret societies. Along with other sacred objects they would be displayed to new initiates and understood to represent benevolent spirits associated with the most important masquerades. They might also serve as witnesses in the circumcision camp where the circumcision knife would be passed over the miniature masks as a form of sterilisation to free the knife of evil spirits.
WE/GERE/WOBE PASSPORT MASK Liberia 11 cm. high Provenienz Bodes & Bode, The Hague Amongst the We small masks are called kruwue and could serve a number of differect functions (Fischer, E. and Himmelheber, H., The Arts of the Dan in West Africa, 1976, p.107). The owner of an important large mask has the right to commission a miniature mask which can stand in for the large mask and maintain the owner’s contact with the mask-spirit and also serve as a form of identification when he is away from his community. Although women are prohibited from owning large masks they may own a small one. A daughter in a family with a particularly close association with a mask spirit might commission a small mask to take with her to her new home following her marriage in order to maintain her association with the mask spirit. Miniature masks also play a role in secret societies. Along with other sacred objects they would be displayed to new initiates and understood to represent benevolent spirits associated with the most important masquerades. They might also serve as witnesses in the circumcision camp where the circumcision knife would be passed over the miniature masks as a form of sterilisation to free the knife of evil spirits.
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.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
.jpg "Quelle: Christie's")
