Pair of Masks

This pair of wooden masks dates to around 1695, making them rare survivors from a period when very few African wood sculptures have endured. Wood deteriorates in tropical climates, and carbon-14 dating has confirmed only a handful of African wooden sculptures from before the 18th century. These masks retain traces of gesso, a white paint mixture applied to create a smooth base for further decoration or to achieve the white surface important in certain ceremonial contexts.

Masks played central roles across West and Central African cultures during this period. They appeared in court rituals, initiation ceremonies marking the transition from boyhood to adulthood, funerals, ancestor veneration, and masquerade performances that maintained social and spiritual order. The pairing of two masks suggests they may have been used together in a ceremony or represent complementary spiritual forces. They're now part of the collection at the Art Institute of Chicago.