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Ethnika.antiques

# 5236 African Baule Bronze Passport Mask 7.25" h

# 5236 African Baule Bronze Passport Mask 7.25" h

$225.00 USD
$390.00 USD $225.00 USD
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African Tribal Baule Cast  Bronze Mask,

 measures: 7 .25" h by 5.25" w by 1.25" D

Small Passport masks serve to mark the passage of an initiate into the men secret society and his elevation into the higher ranks. The small masks may be presented at meetings of senior members of the men society to indicate their right to be present and participate in the deliberations.

Diviner’s would recommend that small masks be given to children to wear to ward off evil witches or cure illnesses. 

Most of these miniature masks mirror the shape and features of the larger masks that they were modeled after. Like the full-sized dance masks the smaller masks reflect the great diversity of styles and forms of the larger masks.  The Bamileke are among the artistic elite of the Cameroon Grasslands area. They are ruled by kings, and many of their masks are for royal festivities. 
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