This finely decorated and beautifully polished oval shaped face mask
shows the Ligbi’s artistsic skill and their marvelous depiction of a dignified,
stylized human face. Complementing the horns are the two appendages hanging
on either side of the chin called “legs”, which are derived from Kpellie masks
from the neighboring Senufo people whose art highly influenced the Ligbi, Nafana and
the Djimini. Used during the Do masquerade which closes the Muslim Ramadan
period, this anthropomorphic mask possibly represents the form of a young
maiden & bushcow. The face is a beautiful dark color, with scarifications and
features enhanced by the use of colored pigments. Interestingly, although the
Ligbi have converted to Islam, they have maintained their masked festival, the Do.
The Ligbi are a West African people living on the border between Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire, east of Bondoukou, and are distinct, although interrelated through the Do society with neighboring peoples like the Djimini.
Height: 13 1/8” x Width: 7 ½” x Depth: 2 ¼”
NOTE: There is a repaired break on the top right horn.
Ex. Allen Davis Collection, Virginia.
Allen Davis - August 23, 1927 ~ February 17, 2025
Ambassador Allen Davis, led a life marked by service, diplomacy and a deep appreciation for nature and a passion for collecting African art. He found beauty and meaning in the cultures he encountered throughout his life.
To view more of the Allen Davis Collection entitiled ‘African Brilliance: A Diplomat’s Sixty Years of Collecting’ an exhibit at Palmer Museum of Art, Penn State 2020 go to;
https://exhibitions.psu.edu/s/african-brilliance/page/allen-davis
