Miniature mask

late 19th–mid-20th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 341

Across present-day Liberia, Côte d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, individuals have commissioned a variety of miniature masks for personal use. These range in style from finely detailed to highly schematic, depending on their intended purpose. Many are replicas of specific masks used in performance. When prescribed by a diviner for preventative or curative purposes, these miniatures draw upon the power and protective force of the original mask. Individuals with family ties to a known mask may also commission reproductions to accompany them during their travels as a form of identification. Attendees of restricted council meetings sometimes carry these as proof of belonging. Other miniatures are carved for spiritually gifted children or used as teaching aids during initiation camps.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Title: Miniature mask
Artist: Kono artist
Date: late 19th–mid-20th century
Geography: Sierra Leone(?)
Culture: Kono peoples
Medium: Wood, metal
Dimensions: H. 3 3/8 × W. 2 3/8 × D. 1 1/4 in. (8.6 × 6 × 3.2 cm)
Classification: Wood-Sculpture
Credit Line: Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Robert A. Baird, 1979
Object Number: 1979.526.4
Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

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