Bassa Mask Liberia
Width: 5.5
Depth: 2.25
Description
The Bassa live along the coastal region of Liberia sharing many of the men's Poro and the women's Sande secret and initiatory societies found among their Dan and Kpelle neighbors. This mask known Geh-naw dances in graceful and feminine movements to accompany boys when they return to their village after having been initiated into the men's society. It will also appear during holidays and to honor important visitors to the village. The mask is worn on the face or forehead and the body is covered by a cloth costume. Sometimes a wicker basket is attached to the back of the mask.
The Bassa have several female and male societies, including chu-den-zo, to whom gela (geh-naw). The Bassa are relatives of the Dan, who live to their northeast, mostly in Cote d'Ivoire. They have absorbed much from Dan culture, including the usage and appearance of their arts. Occupying the geographic center of Liberia, the Bassa live in scattered small villages, and cultivate rice and other crops. They do not have a centralized government or paramount chief, and depend on secret societies like the "Poro" to maintain order and social cohesion.
Masks are the primary modes of expression for the Bassa, as well as their Mande relatives, and figures are rare and poorly documented. What is known is that statues are reportedly carved to honor "favorite wife," or other important family member or ancestor. These figures served to honor women of good character and generous spirit. They were hidden and not, as far as we know, used ritually by the village as a whole. They are personal in nature, and thus each one has a unique meaning.
The Bassa people are a West African ethnic group primarily native to Liberia. They form a majority or a significant minority in Liberia's Grand Bassa, Rivercess, Margibi and Montserrado counties. In Liberia's capital of Monrovia, they are the largest ethnic group. withan overall population of about 0.57 million, they are the second largest ethnic group in Liberia (13.4%), after the Kpelle people (20.3%). Small Bassa communities are also found in Sierra Leone and Ivory-Coast.
AO0423
146486
Approximate Age: 19th - Early 20th Century
People: Bassa
Country of Origin: Liberia
Material
Condition
Overall Condition: Good. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners.   Small splits, scrapes and cracks are a normal part of their patina attesting to their age and extensive use.  We examine each piece carefully when we receive it and report any damage we find in our listings.  Please look carefully at the pictures which may also reveal condition and damage.