Skip to Main Content

Artwork Page for Mask (Kple Kple or Kouassi Gbe)

Details / Information for Mask (Kple Kple or Kouassi Gbe)

Mask (Kple Kple or Kouassi Gbe)

late 1800s-early 1900s
Wood, resin, and paint
Overall: 40.7 cm (16 in.)
Gift of Katherine C. White 1975.155
Location: 108A Sub-Saharan
Public Domain
You can copy, modify, and distribute this work, all without asking permission. Learn more about CMA's Open Access Initiative.

Download, Print and Share

Print

Did You Know?

The wearer of this mask would secure it on his face by biting onto a (now-missing) piece of rope attached to the back.

Description

This kple kple mask belongs to the first of four pairs of masks that entertain as part of a performance sequence in the goli dance. The male in each pair dances first. The masks are worn by young boys in a rapid stamping dance. The masqueraders alternate with each other and watch their partners perform. The head of the male kple kple is painted red, whereas the female, like this example, is colored black.
Dark brown wood mask with a circular disk and two horns with spiral patterns arcing up and towards each other, flanked by two small ear-like ovals. On the circular disk are circles like eyes with two spiral patterned cones between them and two inverted triangles cut out below them. Below is an oval like a mouth with a squared pattern like teeth within it.

Mask (Kple Kple or Kouassi Gbe)

late 1800s-early 1900s

Africa, West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Baule-style carver

See Also

Visually Similar by AI

    Contact us

    The information about this object, including provenance, may not be currently accurate. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@clevelandart.org.

    To request more information about this object, study images, or bibliography, contact the Ingalls Library Reference Desk.

    All images and data available through Open Access can be downloaded for free. For images not available through Open Access, or any image with a color bar, request a digital file from Image Services.