Pendant Mask
Arts of Africa
In Ghana and the Ivory Coast, regions that acquired great wealth from the mining and trading of gold, rulers displayed their status by wearing a profusion of gold ornaments, even attaching such objects to umbrellas and swords. Although many of these ornaments are abstract geometric shapes, some represent human faces or animals. Such works were made using the lost-wax casting method, in which a clay mold was made around a modeled wax form. The mold was then heated and the wax poured out, after which molten gold was poured in and solidified in the form of the original wax model.
CULTURE
Baule
MEDIUM
Gold cast by the lost wax process.
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS
- Place made: Lacs District (formerly N'Zi-Comoé Region), Côte d'Ivoire
- Possible place made: Vallée du Bandama Region, Côte d'Ivoire
DATES
19th or 20th century
DIMENSIONS
2 3/8 × 1 3/4 × 1 in. (6 × 4.5 × 2.5 cm)
mount (display dims. 2023 Africa Fashion.): 6 1/2 × 1 3/4 × 2 in. (16.5 × 4.4 × 5.1 cm) (show scale)
COLLECTIONS
Arts of Africa
ACCESSION NUMBER
49.32.1
CREDIT LINE
A. Augustus Healy Fund
CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION
Oval faced with raised triangular nose. Domed eyeballs have center slits and are topped by crimped wire 'glasses'. Eyebrows handled same way, as is the mouth at the base. Hair outlined with twisted and crimped wires ending in numerouse short strands. Three suspension loops on top. CONDITION: very good.
EXHIBITIONS
MUSEUM LOCATION
This item is not on view
CAPTION
Baule. Pendant Mask, 19th or 20th century. Gold cast by the lost wax process., 2 3/8 × 1 3/4 × 1 in. (6 × 4.5 × 2.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, A. Augustus Healy Fund, 49.32.1. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 49.32.1_PS11.jpg)
IMAGE
overall, 49.32.1_PS11.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2023
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RIGHTS STATEMENT
Creative Commons-BY
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