"Fang Mask"

 Don't wait. There's only 1 of these available.

Medium: One of a Kind Hand Carved Wood
Dimensions:
Height: 3.5 feet/42 inches, 107 centimeters
Length: 5 inches, 13 centimeters
Region: Burkina Faso, West Africa
Tribe: Fang Tribe
Approximate Age: 34 years (1988)
Availability: In Stock, Available to Ship Immediately 
Item Number: M013
Collection: Tribal Masks
Tear Sheet: Available Upon Request
Provenance Report: "Fang Mask"
Condition: Some signs of age (as seen in photos)
Sourcing: Fair Trade
 Certificate of Authenticity Provided

Fang Masks, such as those worn by itinerant troubadours and for hunting and punishing sorcerers, are painted white with facial features outlined in black. Typical are large elongated masks covered with kaolin and featuring a face that was usually heart-shaped with a long fine nose. Apparently it have been linked with the dead, since white is their color. The Ngontang dance society also used white masks, sometimes in the form of a four-sided helmet shape with bulging forehead and eyebrows in heart-shaped arcs. Fang masks were acquired and relished by modernist artists such as Picasso and Matisse. The African pieces, Picasso said, helped him to understand his purpose as a painter, which was not to entertain with decorative images, but to meditate between perceived reality and the creativity of the human mind--to be freed or "exorcised" from fear of the unknown by giving form to it. 

This unique piece was hand made by the Fang people of Burkina Faso in West Africa. No factories or machinery was involved in the production process, only artisans and hand tools with painstaking detail and precision. This piece is made out of natural materials and is free from any fillers, dyes, stains, or varnishes. There is ONLY ONE piece in existence--truly one of a kind.

Some more information about York's Shona Gallery:
• We are based in New York City and opened NYC's first African art gallery in 1985
• Family and Minority Owned & Operated
• Each Purchase Supports Tribes in Africa

Masks from Africa
Masks were probably the first objects of African Art to capture the interest of art lovers of the New World. Like sculptures, masks served distinct functions. They were used for initiation, fertility rites, ancestor and spiritual worship, and other ceremonies.

The multitude of styles the masks produced revealed great artistic stories. African masks have been collected since artists like Pablo Picasso started his famous collection. He has stated that African masks inspired much of his work.

Shipping

At York’s Shona Gallery, we always put our clients first. We have the most rapid fulfillment services of all online art websites. The majority of items will ship within 6 hours of ordering from Monday-Saturday. Depending on the shipping method you choose and where you are located in the United States, you should receive your item within 5 days.  

We also ship worldwide. Purchase the item of your choice and we will contact you shortly after with details on shipping and applicable taxes.

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