Shawn Athari

Contemporary Glass Artist

Yaure

Origin: Africa

These masks are from the area between the Baule and Guro neighbors. They are believed to be the intermediaries between humankind and Bali, the supreme creator.

It is believed that when someone passes it puts the villagers out of balance and this mask puts calm back into the spirit of the village.In addition to this purifying function, the masks are also used to guide the deceased’s soul to the world of the dead, and to assure him the status of an ancestor protective of his descendants. This is of the utmost importance, for there is nothing as dangerous or disquieting as an errant soul loose in the village. The outline of the mask is characteristically surrounded by a serrated edge.




Available