Wè
Mask of Wisdom (Gbona Gla)
Wè, 2000
Physical Qualities
Wood, copper alloy bells, human hair, cowrie shells, zinc alloy teeth, pigment, plant fiber, cotton, 11 5/8 × 8 11/16 × 4 15/16 in. (29.5 × 22 × 12.5 cm.)
Credit Line
Gift of Sandra R. Leichtman, Baltimore
Object Number
1991.356
A band of cloth and cowrie shells frame forehead and a bundle of them, with a metal ring, rests on the forehead. 3 vertical brow ridges with some encrustation, white paint on eyes, traces of red and yellow paint on rest of mask, metal teeth in mouth. Plaited human hair and bells frame lower half of face. White paint from eyes has leaked through eye slits to back of mask.
The Baltimore Museum of Art by gift, 1991; Dr. Sandy Leichtman, Baltimore; formerly Arthur Barth, 1969
"Dimensions of Black", February 1970, LaJolla Museum of Art.
"Subverting Beauty: African Anti-Aesthetics", Jul 15, 2018 - Nov 17, 2019, BMA, Kevin Tervala.
"Subverting Beauty: African Anti-Aesthetics", Jul 15, 2018 - Nov 17, 2019, BMA, Kevin Tervala.
"Turning agianstbeauty," The Baltimore Sun, Arts and Entertainment section, Sunday, July 29, 2018
Sotheby's sale 5248 Nov 29, 1984 Lot 183.
