ZAMLE HEAD CREST
Artist: Artist Unknown
Date: Early 20th century
Category: Sculpture
Medium: Polychrome wood mask
Item #: M.494.15.SC
In Collection: The Malt Collection
Guro
African, Ivory Coast
E. Leuzingen, African: Ivory Coast, about 1730 Baule moved into area of Bandama River, intermingling with Guro & Senuifo. The cultured Baule and talented Guro-world famous African Art with fine poetic element. Sculpture provides gods & ancestors w/ as fine and well-formed abode as possible. Guro style more indigenous and elegant than Baule. Characteristic chevron-shaped hairline. Zoomorphic elements (horns) identify mask as mythological being. Polychrome antelope horns in the dance of the Zamle secret society and serves as a war mask. M. Trowell: The Zamle society mask produces antelope dances to ensure increase of crops. P. Wingert: Primitive Art: To the W & S of the Baule region the Guro develop a comparable style w.an even greater emphasis on elegance of detail and subtle changes of direction, from concave to convex, of surface planes.
