240461 - African yellow Guro animal mask - Iv. Coast.

Iv. Coast: African Yellow Guro Animal mask.
Height: 43 cm.
The Guro Animal Mask is not only visually stunning, but it also holds significant cultural and spiritual meaning for the Guro people. It is a testament to the skill and artistry of the Guro tribe's craftsmen and serves as a symbol of their rich cultural heritage. Today, the mask is highly sought after by collectors and art enthusiasts from all over the world, further cementing its status as a masterpiece of African art.
Guro masks are elegant, usually long with pointed chins, and generally the most colorful of African masks. Sometimes there are burn marks on them. They are often repainted, so layers of paint are not uncommon. Such masks were danced in various ceremonies. The daily life of the Guro is dominated by secret societies and by a belief in protective spirits, to whom the Guro uséd to build shrines and create figures. The most significant in this respect is the Je society, which is responsible for social, political, and juridical questions, decisions of peace and war, policing tasks, and the detection of destructive forces, as well as appearing at funerals of its members. This male society uses a variety of anthropomorphic and zoomorphic masks, some fitted with staff-like superstructures, all ostensibly fatal for women to view. Village life is regulated by a council of elders, representing each main family, and by secret societies. They belong to the category of Je masks and are the first to appear to warm up the audience prior to the appearance of the anthropomorphic masks, considered to be the most important during the performance.