African mask mask Masque facial Kru Grebo polychrome handmade-G2034

53/15.5-CM
The remarkable masks of African art from the mask capture attention. One such mask is the Kru plate mask, which features six pairs of tubular eyes. This design is a representation of the commonly used expression in West Africa, "four eyes," which describes individuals with clairvoyant abilities. The mask showcases alternating polychromy and originates from the Kru, a group composed of twenty-four subgroups including the Grebo people. The Grebo reside in southern Liberia and southwestern Côte d'Ivoire, led by the bodio who lives in seclusion. Unlike other West African communities, the Kru do not adhere to the Poro society. The masks with tubular growths, believed to have originated from the oubi, may symbolize the mythical creatures dwelling in the forests along the banks of the Cavally River. The Grebo mask's abstract forms have caught the interest of cubist painters and modern sculptors,