Object Details
- Label Text
- The Bassa mask is the senior entertainment mask of the men's No association. When danced it emphasizes desirable traits for women to emulate. Although smaller than life-size, the wooden mask was attached to an open basket like construction, that was concealed as part of a larger costume that fully covered the dancer's face.
- Description
- Wood face mask with severely receding forehead, prognothic cheeks and jaw. Eyes set way back underneath forehead. Mouth small, round and protruding, Cross-hatched scarification extends from top of forehead under coiffure to bridge of nose. Coiffure itself is a series of horizontal registers separated by deep incisions. Each row has deep diagonal cuts. Bean-shaped knob protrudes from middle of coiffure at top of head and small bean-shaped knobs on coiffure on either side of larger knob. Mask is dark brown color.
- Provenance
- Schoeffel and Groux, -- to 1979
- Robert and Nancy Nooter, Washington, DC, 1979 to 1988
- Content Statement
- As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
- Image Requests
- High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
- Data Source
- National Museum of African Art
- Maker
- Bassa artist
- Date
- Early-mid 20th century
- Credit Line
- Gift of Robert and Nancy Nooter
- Medium
- Wood
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 20.7 x 12.8 x 7.5 cm (8 1/8 x 5 1/16 x 2 15/16 in.)
- Type
- Mask
