Grebo Large Female Back Mask on Custom Stand Tanzania

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.

Damage/Repair:

This large and expressive carved mask represents a mysterious part of Grebo culture seldom seen to outsiders. It obvioulsy represents a woman, as evidenced by the essentuated breasts. Art traders indicated that this style of masks is used by the secret womens society, Sande. They are danced by women, worn on the back, at celebrations of marriage, anniversary, and pregnancy.

Grebo masks are best known for their influence on early western modern art being found in the collection of Picasso who obtained a Grebo mask from his dealer Kahnweiler in Paris. There is no doubt as to the influence of the Grebo style mask upon the development of western art for they are a complete example of geometry in sculpture with the large face, square mouth, large forehead, strong nose and tubular eyes.