#1334 Lg Fang Mask Elongated Face Gabon African Mask 28.5" H

This magnificent Fang mask features an elongated, heart-shaped face painted white. Such masks, belonging to the Fang Ngil society, measure approximately 28.5"H by 12.25"W by 8"D and may show signs of use and age such as minor losses. The Fang people, spread from Cameroon to Equatorial Guinea and Gabon, used masks in secret societies for rites of initiation and the persecution of wrongdoers. Masquerading in raffia costumes and illuminated by torchlight, the village would come alive with their appearance. African masks like this one from the Fang Tribe of Gabon were believed to ward off evil spirits and symbolize wealth and prosperity. Handcrafted from wood, these masks served as an inspiration for many of Picasso's Cubist works.