African Wooden Carved Mask Adorned With Teeth, Leather Eyebrows, And Iron Nails Tanzania Rohner Collection

This carved wooden mask from Tanzania features stylized facial features and a distinctive combination of decorative materials. The mask is adorned with teeth, leather eyebrows, and iron nails, creating a striking appearance and adding texture to its carved wooden form.

Tanzania is home to a diverse range of ethnic groups, each with its own artistic traditions, carving styles, and cultural practices. Wooden masks and carved objects from the region reflect the craftsmanship and artistic expression of local communities and may be associated with ceremonial performances or social traditions, depending on their origin. The specific cultural attribution of this mask is uncertain, making it an interesting example of Tanzanian woodcarving. 

Provenance: John R. Rohner Collection
Rohner, a museum curator for decades, aimed his practiced eye for authenticity to African art beginning in the early 1980s. His passion for this art only grew through the decades he built his collection––always with an aim for a broad and representative array of pieces. The collection appears in his book, Art Treasures from African Runners (2000, University Press of Colorado). 

Item #629 on pg. 241

Height (in): 12.25
Width (in): 7.5
Depth (in): 3.5

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