This unusual mask depicts only the torso of a woman great with child. Four leaves surround the navel, while textured motifs suggest ritual scarification. Carved of sese wood and adorned with white clay, this beautiful sculpture is the creation of Salihu Ibrahim. Such masks are given to married women of the Sadema tribe in the upper eastern region of Ghana, he says. It is a symbol of good luck and is also thought to bring fruitfulness of the womb. The mask is designed for wall display only and cannot stand on its own.
Language: English
