What’s New and Exciting at Lotus Masks?

Rare Yohure masks, towering 44” African couple statue sets, and anthropomorphic masks are among the many new arrivals from Africa!  We’re so excited we want to introduce a few of the new African masks and statues to you!

Obviously, we aren’t able to describe all of our new arrivals in one blog post, so we invite you to view all of the great new African masks and sculptures in our online store at Lotus Masks.  Remember, whenever you purchase an African mask or sculpture, we’ll donate a portion of the proceeds to an African charity!  Enter the online mask store now.

African Mask – Yohure Tribe – “Togetherness”

This large wood mask measures more than two feet (25”) from bottom to top.  Taking on many elements of the Baule tribal style, the mask differs in a few subtle ways to differentiate it as Yohure, a tribe living between the Baule and Goro people.  These features of the Yohure African Mask include a wavy hairline, elongated face, high forehead, protruding mouth, and serrated design on the collar aThe eyebrows are carved in long lines and extend to the side of the eyes to represent female beauty.

Above the mask, the animal superstructure carved is two hornbills.  Because the birds’ beaks are caressing each other, this mask is a sign of ‘togetherness’ or unity.  This African mask would make a perfect gift for the newly wedded couple, as an anniversary gift, or even to mark the beginning of a new business relationship.  Click to view the Yohure African mask of Togetherness in our online store now.

African Statues – Man & Woman Couple Sets

Newly arrived in our online store are a few pair of African Couple Statues!  If you’re not familiar with couple statues, these male-female sets of woodcarvings are some of the most traditional and most popular forms of art and culture in West Africa.

One of our newly arrived sets is from the Ivory Coast, and is a depiction of a Baule Couple, standing 26” tall.  The male, with a beard representing an elder, suggests that the couple is an older couple filled with wisdom.  Baule couple statues, however, are not depictions of actual people–rather they are symbols spirits and the ennobling qualities of the society.  Take a look at this African couple statue set in our African Mask store now!

If you’re really into the idea of bringing Africa into your home or workplace, our towering 44” Baule couple statue from the Ivory Coast.  The Baule tribe are known for their active resistance to French colonization, and the protruding jaws and knees bent at-the-ready depict that.  Perhaps even more interesting to Western collectors of African masks and sculptures is the common characteristic of Baule couple statues to depict the woman as taller–a symbol of their matrilineal society.  The women are also carved with a bigger navel, because the navel is believed to be the source of life and gestation is ascribed to women.  Check out this African statue set now in our online African Mask store!

Large Elephant and Antelope African Masks

As always, our latest shipment from Cote d’Ivoire included several animal or anthropomorphic African masks.

One, a 26” Baule Elephant mask, has the features of a human face as well as an elephant’s head. The human nose is elongated past the face to the collar to look like an elephant’s tusk. An example of a bonu amuen African mask, this mask would have been worn during public dances. Because the elephant represents nobility, power and justice in African cultures, this African mask would have been worn by someone in authority.  Take a look at the Elephant mask now in our online African mask store.

Another animal mask, the 38” African Guro Antelope Mask, is an example of Guro’s zoomorphic representation of their protector spirits. This spirits were revered by secret societies, and only males were allowed to look upon it during worship. The antelope was revered like all forest animals because the Guro believed animals were a vital link in communicating with spirits. This mask was worn at dances to chase away evil spirits.

As a Je mask, this mask pre-dates the anthropomorphic ones.  Click to view the amazing Antelope mask in our online store now.