The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 20, 2024

Mask

Mask

early 1900s, before 1933–37
Wood, copper alloy, plant fiber, cloth, rawhide or leather, teeth, seeds, resin, synthetic material, iron, and glass beads
Overall: 28 x 15.2 cm (11 x 6 in.)
The Harold T. Clark Educational Extension Fund 1953.457
Location: 108A Sub-Saharan

Did You Know?

The jaw of this mask is hinged, allowing it to open and close.

Description

Generally, Mano masks are considered to be manifestations of forest spirits and can be grouped into 11 major types relating to aspects of social control, political and judicial matters, peacemaking, education, competition, and entertainment. This mask was acquired in Liberia by the medical missionary George Harley between 1933 and 1937.
  • (Ralph C. Altman, Los Angeles)
  • Petridis, Constantijn. South of the Sahara: selected works of African art. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2003. Reproduced: cat. 13, p. 56 - 57
    Petridis, Constantine. "A "Harley Mask" at the Cleveland Museum of Art: More on Masks among the Mano and Dan Peoples (Liberia/Cote d'Ivoire)." African Arts 45:1 (Spring 2012): p 17, no 1
  • Primitive to Contemporary Sculpture. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (September 6-October 31, 1956).
  • {{cite web|title=Mask|url=false|author=|year=early 1900s, before 1933–37|access-date=20 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1953.457