Description
This was used in masked performances of the Agrinya society, a powerful guild formerly restricted to men who had killed an elephant, lion, or man. The white pigment connotes the realm of the ancestors, while the aggressive expression of the face seems to suggest the courage of Agrinya society members.
Provenance
M. Sainsbury, Bath (?–1964); The Cleveland Museum of Art by purchase (1964–)
Accession Number
1964.444
Medium
Wood, human hair, paint, and possibly kaolin
Dimensions
Overall: 20.4 x 17.8 x 16.2 cm (8 1/16 x 7 x 6 3/8 in.)
Classification
Mask
Credit Line
James Albert and Mary Gardiner Ford Memorial Fund
