African Tribal Artifact
Fang Tribal Mask / Helmet, Gabon
Late 19th Century, Early 20th Century, Ivory Coast, West Africa

 

Exotic ceremonial helmet on a contemporary custom metal stand.
Face design is repeated around the entire helmet. White pigment face paint.
Carved from a solid tree trunk, you can see the rings from the top of the helmet.
Wonderful, simple design with great character.

The reliquary masks of Gabon are regarded in the West as the masterpieces of African Art.
The Modernistic appeal was first appreciated in the early 20th Century and inspired many designers
of the Art Deco era. Christian missionaries influenced much of the artwork in the 1930’s.
The Fang tribe inhibits the northwest area of Gabon.

This helmet is from a private collection of rare African artifacts that were owned by an African official
who was actually in charge of seeing that rare items such as this did not leave the country.
We will be adding more from this collection later in 2007, after our fall shipment arrives from Europe.

Dimensions: Helmet: 16 ¼” high, 13” diameter.
On stand, as shown; 61” high.

Condition: In very good original condition, no clear-coat or wax on helmet.
New metal stand, painted black.

Item # DATA03: Price: $ 9,500.

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