open ring

Featuring round eyes, an open mouth, and a bird perched on top, this African mask is designed by Daniel Quarcoo. He works with local artisans who hand carve this long, oval mask from sese wood. The black mask is accented with gleaming pieces of embossed aluminum and brass, which evoke traditional scarification practices.

The kasa anoma mask is an original design by Ghanaian artisan Sefah Mohammed. Meaning "talking bird" in the Twi dialect of the Akan people, the sese wood mask is adorned with a bird on the forehead, its beak leading on to the nose and opened mouth. Mohammed incorporates embossed aluminum plates on the cheeks and forehead, and completes the mask with yellow, red and black painted details, masterfully creating a weathered illusion.

Victor Addo Biney is inspired by the legendary fertility doll of Ghana's Fante people to design this original mask. Biney carves the sese wood mask by hand, featuring an open mouth and cut out eyes. The face is superbly decorated with embossed aluminum, including the image of a male and female giraffe. To the artisan, they represent the calmness of nature. This collectible mask features an aged finish.

With eyes and mouth open, this African mask represents the virtue of patience, or abotre in the Akan language. "Each person must have patience in order to live peacefully with others," Eric Danquah says of his inspiration for this original design. The sese wood image is crafted by hand featuring a bird over the nose and embossed brass plates bearing motifs of Akan artistry.

Brilliant colors distinguish this beautiful mask, and a bird appears on the forehead. By Sefah Mohammed, it is adorned with African beads and ornate aluminum repoussé. "In Southern Nigeria, this mask is displayed during periods of drought," he explains. "It is believed that the mask's appearance causes the spirits to open the way for rainfall." Mohammed names this piece Tangarda, a Hausa word meaning "Unfortunate."

With solemn dignity, he opens his mouth to speak. A soothsayer, his word carries great weight among the Dagomba people of northern Ghana. "Such masks are used by spiritualists to apprehend thieves who break into the homes of others," artisan Sefah Mohammed explains. "If a house is burgled, the people call a spiritualist who, upon wearing this mask, can identify the culprit." He names his design Booka, which means "soothsayer" in the Hausa language.

A faithful replica of the renowned "White Masks of the Ogooue," this mask personifies an ancestral spirit of the Kota and Mukudji people from Gabon. Known as "Punu," the ancestral spirit is believed to guide one to the hereafter; Punu masks are reserved for important village festivities. Salihu Ibrahim hand-carves the mask of sese wood featuring half-opened eyes and slightly raised pursed lips. The forehead is embellished with a distinct diamond-shaped motif. The face is surrounded by a patterned halo. Once the mask is carved and the wood has dried thoroughly dried, it is treated with clay to appear like an antique piece.

Victor Dushie grew up in a community of carvers, which inspired him to seek his own success in the art form. His original mask design is hand-carved from native sese wood in a round shape with a wide-open mouth. Embossed aluminum plates and a dove descending on the forehead add fascinating detail. The mask makes a conversation-starting accent for any space in your home.