Mau peoples, Côte d'Ivoire
Early to mid-20th century
Wood, accumulative material, cloth, plant fiber, hide, horn
80-27-6, gift of Robert and Nancy Nooter

Relative size

One of a pair that protected a community, it would hunt down the evil spirits its partner lured out. Lurking outside the village, it is often heard and not seen, making itself known with shouts and strange sounds produced by noisemakers.

The maskette is a true miniature, a small copy of the large mask. While the big mask protected the whole village, the small maskette guarded an individual. Just as the big mask has a horn and medicine bundle to add to its power, the little mask once had an encrusted surface on its face.

Mau peoples, Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire
Late 19th to early 20th century
Wood, copper alloy, encrustation
98-15-11, gift of Lawrence Gussman in memory of Dr. Albert Schweitzer

Relative size