Description
This strikingly abstract mask was once covered with potent red abrus seeds that were held in place by a resin paste. It would have been used in initiation rituals for one of six age-grade associations. Among the Sha people, a mask like this one represents a male spirit called Akirang who had a female counterpart named Aja. The Kulere equivalent of Akirang was Asho, a spirit associated with human and agricultural fertility.
Provenance
Ralph Nash, London, by 1972 [this and the following according to personal conversation from R. Faletti dated July 26, 2000, documented in curatorial file]; Michel Huguenin, Galerie Majestic, Paris, by 1972 [Arts Primitif in Arts d'Afrique Noire, vol. 3 (1972), back cover]; sold to Alan Mann, London, by 1989; sold to Judith Nash, Judith Small Gallery, New York, N.Y., by 1989 [see correspondence in curatorial file]; sold to Richard Faletti (died 2006) and Barbara Faletti (died 2000), Chicago, Ill. and Phoenix, Ariz., 1989 [invoice of sale daed March 15, 1989, in curatorial file]; given to the Art Institute, 2000.
Accession Number
155960
Medium
Wood and rubber
Dimensions
58.5 × 19.1 × 30.5 cm (23 × 7 1/2 × 12 in.)
Classification
masks
Credit Line
Gift of Richard Faletti, the Faletti Family Collection
