1930'S AFRICAN MASK HAND CARVED WOOD GURO TRIBE IVORY COAST

Description

About the Guro Tribe
Of all animals, the Guro revere five: the antelope, the hyena, the leopard, the crocodile and the elephant. These are animals mostly found in the savannah and tropical forest where the 200,000-strong tribe lives. The Guro people are found in Ivory Coast; their art is closely related to their neighbor's, the Baule's. In fact, Guro is a Baule name; the actual indigenous name of the tribe is Kweni.
The Guro people are mostly farmers. Therefore, their craftsmanship embraces imageries tied to the land and to agrarian practices.  The symbolism of the four animals featured on their masks derives from these: the antelope is beloved for its grace and speed and for the folkloric belief that a mythical antelope taught men to farm. The hyena is regarded as a hardy animal living off the land, smart and resourceful; the leopard connotes power, bravery and enterprise; the crocodile is regarded as the king of the marshes, guarding the water bodies found in the hinterland location of the tribe. The elephant is believed to be graceful, kind, powerful, royal and loyal.