Mask with hinged Jaw (Bugle)

early 20th century

African Art

On view, 1st floor, African Art

This mask might have served as a judge called upon when matters could not be solved within a village community. Regarded as a spirit force that was unbiased, the mask would listen to the deliberations of the village council and render judgment; the decree was considered supernatural and therefore uncontestable. The mask was controlled or possibly worn by an experienced individual with thorough knowledge of traditional law, societal obligations, and sanctions for violations.

Medium

Wood

Dimensions

14 × 7 × 7 in. (35.56 × 17.78 × 17.78 cm)

Credit Line

Charles B. Benenson, B.A. 1933, Collection

Accession Number

2006.51.309

Geography

Liberia

Culture

Dan

Period

20th century

Classification

Masks

Disclaimer

Note: This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect the Yale University Art Gallery’s complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of records is ongoing.

Provenance
Charles B. Benenson Collection, Greenwich, Conn; Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, Conn.
Bibliography
  • Frederick John Lamp, Amanda Maples, and Laura M. Smalligan, Accumulating Histories: African Art from the Charles B. Benenson Collection at the Yale University Art Gallery (New Haven, Conn.: Yale University Art Gallery, 2012), 216, ill.
  • "Acquisitions, July 1, 2005–June 30, 2006," Yale University Art Gallery Bulletin (2006): 222.
  • Frederick John Lamp, "Charles Benenson and His Legacy of African Art to Yale," Yale University Art Gallery Bulletin (2004): 30, ill.
Object copyright
Copyright Undetermined
Additional information

Object/Work type

ceremonial objects, masks (costume)

Technical metadata and APIs

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