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Mask (Kple Kple or Kouassi Gbe)
✓ Authenticity guarantee · ✓ Specialist condition report · ✓ Insured worldwide shipping · ✓ Private-room viewing
This <em>kple kple</em> mask belongs to the first of four pairs of masks that entertain as part of a performance sequence in the <em>goli</em> dance. The male in each pair dances first. The masks are worn by young boys in a rapid stamping dance. The masqueraders alternate with each other and watch their partners perform. The head of the male kple kple is painted red, whereas the female, like this example, is colored black.
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, Baule-style carver |
|---|---|
| Date | late 1800s-early 1900s |
| Culture / Origin | Africa, West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Baule-style carver |
| Medium | Wood, resin, and paint |
| Dimensions | Overall: 40.7 cm (16 in.) |
| Department | African Art |
| Type | Mask |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
Fine-art shipping with climate control and full insurance to over 120 countries; collection by appointment.
Buying at Matchless Pieces
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