Photographs © Tim Hamill
TOMA, LANDAI MASK 20, 26", $1000, Guinea
These brooding, often quite large, masks represent a forest spirit, Landai. They were used by the men's Poro Society to initiate boys into manhood. The masks, in what was often a frightening ritual for the boys, would symbolically swallow the boy, who would then re-emerge as a man. The masks were worn with a large raffia costume. Most have a flat face, the traditional beaked nose, jaws of teeth, protruding brow and horns.
Despite its appearance this object shows no evidence of age or use and was probably made to be sold.
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