WE / WOBE MASKS ARCHIVES, Liberia

The masks below have been sold and are left here for reference and educational purposes.

For UNSOLD We/Wobe masks GO TO WE/WOBE MASK 251

WE / WOBE STYLE
Mask 262
14" high
SOLD

WE / WOBE STYLE
Mask 256
12" high
SOLD

WE / WOBE STYLE
Mask 253
10.5" high
SOLD

WE / WOBE STYLE
Mask 257
35" long
SOLD

WE / WOBE STYLE
Mask 258
26" long
SOLD

WE / WOBE STYLE
Mask 259
27" high
SOLD

WE / WOBE STYLE
Mask 260
16" high
SOLD

WE / WOBE STYLE
Mask 255
18"
SOLD 

WE / WOBE
Mask 252
14" high
SOLD

WE / WOBE STYLE
Mask 254
13" high
SOLD

WE / WOBE STYLE
Mask 261
15" high
SOLD

Photographs © Hamill Gallery

WE, WOBE MASKS, Liberia

Living in along the western edge of the Ivory Coast, the Wobe and their neighbors the Guere share numerous customs and beliefs. Although they are separate tribes, the two peoples are often referred to as the We, whose name means "men who easily forgive

According to Jean-Baptiste Bacquart in his excellent book The Tribal Arts of Africa, We carvers focused on sculpting powerful face masks to which paraphernalia such as shells, bells, nails and feathers were added which were thought to reinforce the power of the masks.

The ferocious aspect of We/Guere masks - bulging eyes, open mouths and sometimes protruding horns - accounts for their identification as "war" masks but, according to Bacquart, they are worn primarily during funerals and - in a"detective" capacity - to single out guilty persons.

We carvers seem to have focused their skills on carving powerful face masks to which paraphernalia such as cowrie shells, bells, nails and feathers were attached. These applied pieces were thought to reinforce the power of the mask. Wobe masks have protruding globular eyes and enlarged lips. The horns found on Guere masks are usually absent from Wobe ones.

-----From The Tribal Arts of Africa by Jean-Baptiste Bacquart.

 

GO TO WE/WOBE MASK 251 PAGE

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