A Senufo Mask, kpelie...

Description

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A Senufo Mask, kpelie
Ivory Coast, 19th to mid-20th century

A rare double face mask from the Senufo called kpelie (alt. kpeliye'e) translating to "the face of the jumping performer." As the name implies, these masks were worn at public dances by men who jumped and leapt acrobatically during funerals and agricultural seasonal events such as planting and harvesting festivals. The wood of this mask has a satiny dark brown/black patina from decades of use and care. In very good condition, high points rubbed, minor chip to upper lip of the proper left face, one lower cone-like projection above left face missing, a small metal pin remaining. It once held a replacement there.

Provenance:
The Dr. Samuel and Lynn Berkowitz Collection
Christie's, London, The Meulendijk Collection of Tribal Art. Part I, 21 October 1980, lot 64
Cornelis Pieter Meulendijk (1912-1979), Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Possibly Loed van Bussel, The Hague, The Netherlands

Exhibition(s):
Rotterdam, The Netherlands: Afrikaanse Sculpturen, uit de collectie van C.P.Meulendijk, Museum voor Land en Volkenkunde, 1967-1968

Published:
Expo cat.: Afrikaanse Sculpturen, uit de collectie van C.P.Meulendijk, Museum voor Land en Volkenkunde, Rotterdam, 1967:#10/27 (not illustrated)
African Heritage Documentation and Research Centre #0073175

Height: 13 inches

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