Toma Maa Maskette

This maskette is an unusual, miniature representation of a maa mask, from the Toma of Guinea and upper Liberia. According to Vittorio Carini in Le maschere dei Toma/Loma, “small masks were widespread among the Toma/Loma and Mano, Gio, Grebo, Kpelle, Bassa peoples as well as other populations who followed the Poro rules in their most advanced levels of initiation. As a rule maa belonged to the notables and Poro important people; they were given as a present to initiate young people who, thanks to their stock heritage or for particular qualities, would play a predominant role in the social life of the village. Some of them, after reaching a certain initiation level, would later be allowed to wear the dance masks corresponding to the miniature ones they owned. In their lifetime, the chosen members had the duty to protect the masks watchfully, praying for them periodically and offering them food and drinks. At every new moon, after the sacrifice of poultry or other animals, they were accurately spread with blood, juice of chewed kola nut or washed with water containing the cortex of ‘gei’ tree. The inobservance of those rituals would cause very serious consequences as maa were full of magic power, an important protection against witchcraft and curse. Moreover they were mediators and catalytic agents between human and supernatural dimension. So, in case of carelessness, they would act against their owner like a double-edged weapon. At the owner’s death, the small mask was put into his tomb or handed to someone belonging to his clan who could take care of it, usually a son or a nephew” (Udine: Gaspari, 2009: 24 & 30).

This maskette has surface traces of kaolin over black pigment and rusted nails in the temple which presumably at one time secured a cloth wrapper. A formally related work, ex collection William Brill, is recorded in the AHDRC database #0167266-001. Mounted on a custom base. $450

5.5″ length without base

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