Gouro mask, Zamblé - Lot 76

Gouro mask, Zamblé Ivory Coast Wood, leather L. 43 cm In legends told in Gouro country, the founding ancestor, a skilled warrior, once had to track down and confront the fearsome Zamble. The masks embodying this legendary creature combine human features with those of antelope, crocodile, dog and panther. A costume of freshly-picked leaves, along with a white cloth loincloth and panther skin, complete the wearer's finery, exalting the supernatural power with which he is haloed. Dancers capable of embodying Zamble - a lively, whimsical and elegant spirit - were few and far between. Their public performances counted as true physical and artistic feats. Playing with deeply curved volumes, the mask studied above shows traces of an ancient traditional red, black and white polychromy.