African Arts Gallery

The African masks of the Senufo are worn by male members of the Poro society, an institution that controls political and economic life.
Growths of various shapes alternate around the face of this narrow mask. It is surmounted by an animal scene in the form of a stylized sculpted motif.
Black, grainy patina. "Kpélié" meaning "mask that jumps", this mask is also worn during initiations symbolically marking a death followed by a rebirth. Kept in the sacred enclosure named sezang in order to remove them from the gaze of the uninitiated, their function is to honor the elders or even appear at funerals. Anthropomorphic masks would mainly chase the spirit of the deceased from its place of residence. Living in a reserved area, the senufo sculptor, whose training ...

The African masks of the Senufo are worn by male members of the Poro society, an institution that controls political and economic life.
Variously shaped fins alternate on the contours of this narrow mask topped with a chameleon figure. "Kpélié" meaning "mask that jumps", it is also worn during initiations symbolically marking a death followed by a rebirth.
Dark patina, with residual ochre incrustations. Kept in the sacred enclosure named sezang in order to remove them from the gaze of the uninitiated, their function is to honor the elders or even appear at funerals. Anthropomorphic masks would mainly chase the spirit of the deceased from its place of residence. Living in a reserved area, the senufo sculptor, whose training lasted seven years, began by making ...

Mask of the Senoufos of Côte d'Ivoire, globular, whose face is pierced with circular holes highlighted with kaolin. Erected at the top, a sculpted figure symbolizing a hornbill or setyen, an emblematic animal of the Senoufos, spreads its wings widely. The black-brown patina is embellished with red ochre details and a white pastillage. Smooth, satin surface. The Senoufo, the name given to them by the French colonists, are mainly composed of farmers who are scattered between Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. Councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer the Senoufo villages. Representations of hybrid beings, the zoomorphic African masks of the Senufo are worn by members of the Poro society, the institution that controls political and economic life. Their function is ...

Among the African furniture items of daily use is an ancient senoufo seat from the Ivory Coast, with a very low, rectangular seat supported by four massive legs. This type of stool for individual use, often carved from shea wood, marked the social rank of its owner and was not lent under any circumstances.
Mainly farmers, the Senoufo group lives in a savannah region that covers southern Mali and Burkina Faso, and northern Côte d'Ivoire. It includes about fifty sub-ethnic groups. The Senufo speak a Voltaic language, Gur, like the Lobi and Koulango. Councils of elders, headed by an elected chief, administer Senufo villages. Governed by matrilineal traditions, they are composed of clusters of dwellings named katiolo. Each has its own Poro association that initiates young boys ...

An alternation of various forms, with Muslim references, make up this Senufo mask of modest proportions, whose contours are decorated with wings and horns. "Kpélié" meaning "mask that jumps", it is also worn during initiations symbolically marking a death followed by a rebirth. Dark patina locally encrusted with granular ochre pigments.
The African masks of the Senufo are worn by the male members of the Poro society, an institution that controls political and economic life. Kept in the sacred enclosure named sezang in order to keep them from the gaze of the uninitiated, their function is to honor the elders or even appear at funerals. The anthropomorphic masks would mainly chase the spirit of the deceased from its place of residence. Named "wife of the Do" by the Dyoula he ...

The African masks of the Senufo are worn by male members of the Poro society, an institution that controls political and economic life.
Variously shaped wings alternate on the contours of this narrow mask topped with a hornbill beak. "Kpélié" meaning "mask that jumps", it is also worn during initiations symbolically marking a death followed by a rebirth.
Dark patina, with residual ochre incrustations. Kept in the sacred enclosure named sezang in order to remove them from the gaze of the uninitiated, their function is to honor the elders or even appear at funerals. Anthropomorphic masks would mainly chase the spirit of the deceased from its place of residence. Living in a reserved area, the senufo sculptor, whose training lasted seven years, began by making ...

This African Mask Senoufo, whose original name is Kpeliye, meaning "masque that jumps", is none other than the representation of an ancestor from the secret society of the Poro. Its function is to honor elders or appear at funerals. Anthropomorphic masks would mainly drive the spirit of the deceased from his place of residence. Zoomorphic elements and human figures combine here in a work of very fine craftsmanship. Coming from the Korhogo region of Côte d'Ivoire, he can also be found representing two faces.

The African masks of the Sénufo are worn by male members of the Poro society, an institution that controls political and economic life. Preserved in the sacred enclosure named sezang fine to remove them from the eyes of the uninitiated, their function is to honor the elders or appear at funerals. Anthropomorphic masks would mainly drive the spirit of the deceased from his place of residence. Zoomorphic elements and human figures combine here in a narrow mask whose contours are lined with rows of pearls and lined with a textile hood. " Kpélié It is also worn during initiations symbolically marking a death followed by a rebirth. The mask is carved in dense wood, one of the lower fins is broken. Beautiful patina of use dark color, locally grainy.
Live in a reserved area, the sculptor ...

This male figure of African art Senoufo embodies the three grades of the cycle pondo ( poro en fodonon). It was worn by a masked man at the funeral of a poro chief, and often went in pairs. The character is dressed in a zoomorphic crest in the form of a bird. This African tribal figure depicted sitting carries a machete. Satin golden patina. Eroded base. The Senoufo, the name given to them by French settlers, are mostly made up of farmers who have dispersed between Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. The councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer the senoufo villages. Governed by matrilineal traditions, they are composed of clusters of dwellings named katiolo . Each of them has its own association Poro which introduces young boys from the age of seven into a succession of ...

In Ivory Coast, sculptures intended for everyday use, and apparently the most ordinary, had to meet aesthetic criteria. Furniture, ornaments, utensils, fabrics, are pretext for a refined artistic expression on the part of sculptors. These objects were not intended for ritual use, so the choice of subjects remained varied. This pulley is decorated with a female figure with mats pulled back around a central crest. The sagging chest is associated with motherhood, fertility. The long neck is adorned with parallel streaks.
Satin dark brown patina, ocuse residue. Wire remains on the reel.
Mainly farmers, the Senoufo group lives in a savannah region that covers southern Mali and Burkina Faso, and northern Côte d'Ivoire. They include about 50 sub-ethnic groups. They speak a Voltaic ...

Representations of hybrid beings, the zoomorphic African masks of the Senufo are worn by members of the Poro society, an institution that controls political and economic life. Their function is to honor the elders or to appear at funerals, hence their name, poniugo , "funeral head". Multiple zoomorphic elements are usually associated, crocodile mouth, antelope horns, warthog and ram. At the top of this mask is a stylized chameleon, an emblematic animal that preceded the creation of human beings and a symbol of knowledge, presenting a cup udddal intended to receive magical substances. Living in a reserved neighbourhood, the sculptor senufo , whose training spanned seven years, began with the making of everyday objects, and then, little by little, carried sculptures of increasing size. ...

Object of daily use collected in Mali by Jacques Anquetil, president of the French Crafts, during his study related to the chapter "calabashes and their uses" (page 114 to 125) for his book "Africa, the hands of the world" "to Solar Editions. This spherical vegetable container has a lid that fits into the body of the case. The different elements composing this African object are sewn with the help of a wire of steel, a cord woven in vegetal fibers constitutes it the transport belt. Destined for the storage of medicinal herbs, seeds, honey or milk. Glossy greased surface. The Senoufo, the name attributed to them by the French settlers, are mostly made up of farmers who have dispersed between Mali, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso. Elders' councils, headed by an elected chief, administer ...

Senoufo African art and maternity wards
The Senoufo have produced a wide variety of African tribal art objects related to the Poro's initiation society: mask-heaumes, face masks, crests, peststatues, or statues depicting the mythical Mother Ka Tyéko.This female tribal statue features a symbolic gesture, sitting, a child with a breast. Scarifications in "moustaches of cat" are present at the cracks of the mouth, linear and parallel on the body. Her hairstyle evokes the mythical bird linked to cosmogony, evoked during the initiation of young people. Sculpture with a satin black patina.
Senoufo villages are made up of clusters of dwellings called katiolo . Each has its own association Poro whose members move up the initiation ladder throughout their lives. Members gather in a ...

The stylized figures of African tribal art
The oblong face, on which run parallel lines associated with the sacrifices, is topped with shells joined together in an elegant crest. This female figure has forearms that thicken towards the hands, which are placed at an angle on either side of the lower abdomen. The legs sink into the drumstick base called "sedine" or "dol" depending on the dialect. The narrow bust has a conical chest and signs symbolizing tribal keloids. Smooth, semi-satinized patina, residual ochre incrustations.
The Senoufos, the name given to them by French settlers, are mostly composed of farmers who have dispersed between Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. Councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer the Senoufo villages. Governed by ...

This comb is topped by a calao figure that is the primordial bird that is one of the five animals of the Cosmogony Senoufo, the first stage of the creation of Senoufo. Evoked for morphological and behavioural criteria, it emblematicly decorates, in its miniature version, many objects of African art senoufo.
Princile Farmers, the Senoufo Group lives in a savannah region that covers southern Mali and Burkina Faso, and northern Côte d'Ivoire. It encompasses about 50 sub-ethnic groups. SSenoufo speak a voltaic language Gur, Gour, like the Lobi and the Koulango. The councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer the senoufo villages. Governed by matrilineal traditions, they are composed of clusters of dwellings named katiolo . Each of them has its own association Poro which ...

In view of the crusty dark patina whose reddish surface is locally dotted, and on which fragments of chick feathers remain frozen, these senoufo statuettes, among the wide variety of anthropomorphic statuary produced by the ethnic group, form interesting specimens of works sculpted for divination purposes. A helmet crest, wide ear pavilions, thin lips inscribed in a protruding jaw conferring vigour and determination on the face, and a dynamic general attitude brought both by the flexing of the limbs and the tension of the chest and abdomen, all articulated with beauty. These figures of (binoculars?) couple, made in a light wood, were probably planted in the ground, like most statues, thanks to the blocks underfoot.
Desication Decisions.
The Senoufos, the name given to them by ...

A rich artistic tradition has manifested itself among the Senoufo by various masks, anthropomorphic sculptures, everyday objects and statuettes embodying the spirits of nature or divination. The latter benefited from sacrificial libations based on palm oil. During the Poro Society rites, the leaders of the initiates also used bird statues, some of them large in scope. Spotted patina. The Senoufo, the name given to them by French settlers, are mostly made up of farmers who have dispersed between Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. The councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer the senoufo villages. Governed by matrilineal traditions, they are composed of clusters of dwellings named katiolo . Each of them has its own association Poro which introduces young boys from the age ...

With a crest evoking a stylized animal figure, this slender male sculpture offers graceful limbs widening at the hands. They lie on both sides of the basin. The barely bent legs disappear into a pilon-forming base, called sedine or dol according to the dialect. Black glossy patina. Desication cracks.
The Senoufos , a name given to them by French settlers, are mainly made up of farmers who have dispersed between Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. The councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer the senoufo villages. Governed by matrilineal traditions, they are composed of clusters of dwellings named katiolo. Each of them has its own association Poro which introduces young boys from the age of seven into a succession of three cycles lasting seven years. Figurative ...

This African senoufo mask, adorned with a polychrome pastillage, has a large mouth of tubular ears, horns and fangs, and a summit figure with a cup. This African senoufo mask with a round head, exorbitant pupils, wide toothed jaw and zoomorphic ears, is named 'fire-breather' (Korobla). It is sometimes accessorized with magical attributes. The chameleon motif refers to the emblematic animal that preceded the creation of human beings and symbolizes knowledge, the cup is intended for magical substances.
The Senoufo, the name given to them by french settlers, are mainly made up of farmers who have dispersed between Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. The councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer the senoufo villages.
Representations of hybrid beings, the ...

Mask who danced harvested after the Second World War.
In its traditional form, it is topped with a Kalao.
Brown Medina showing lighter areas.
The zoomorphic African masks of the Senufo are worn by members of the Poro society, an institution that controls political and economic life. Their function is to honor the elders or even appear at funeralsIn the senoufo society, the masks have names according to their specificity and correspond to a very specific choreography.
Sele-sold case.

Featuring a crest evoking a stylized bird figure, this slender female sculpture offers graceful limbs that widen at the hands. The latter rest on either side of a arched basin. The barely bent legs disappear into a pilon-forming base, called sedine or dol according to the dialect. Brown satin patina moyen.br-
The Senoufos , a name given to them by French settlers, are mainly made up of farmers who have dispersed between Mali, Côte d'Ivoire, and Burkina Faso. The councils of elders, led by an elected chief, administer the senoufo villages. Governed by matrilineal traditions, they are composed of clusters of dwellings named katiolo . Each of them has its own association Poro which introduces young boys from the age of seven into a succession of three cycles lasting seven years. ...