African Masks were widely used through out the mid and western sections of Africa. The westerner considers the mask a work of art. The African considers the mask as a necessary ritual cult object. With ritual these extraordinary African works of art come alive and mysteriously retain a "lived-through" experience. Indeed all of the masks in our very special collection have "danced."
Looking at African tribal masks is like looking at the tribes themselves. Features are distinct for each area and African tribal masks can easily be identified as to their origin.
The most beautiful and expressive of African tribal masks have become cherished collectors items. Many are known to have inspired the famous modern Artists of the last century, such as Picasso, who was also an avid admirer and collector of African tribal masks. Their value continues to rise.
All our African tribal masks come with a certificate of authenticity and identification. Many have substantial provenance.
No two masks are alike. Authentic African masks are strictly one-of-a-kind. There are many close replicas of masks offered today. The authenticity of an African Mask lies in the fact that it was indeed used for the purpose for which it was produced, in other words, that it has "danced." This we determine through a number of factors as well as the piece's history supplied to AA Club members.
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