Helmet mask

Museum number:
5-6250
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21050006250
Alternate number:
10 (original number)
Accession number:
Acc.2288
Description:
“Poro” Society helmet mask, “Gbetu” of brown stained gum wood with incised geometric designs; carved cylindrical extension at top surmounted by anthropomorphic head. Height extension 24 cm. Total height 51.5 cm. Named for one of the classes of “Poro” Society masked and dancing spirit impersonators. They are a representative of sub-secret society association.
Donor:
University Appropriation and Warren L. d'Azevedo
Collection place:
Liberia
Verbatim coll. place:
Liberia; Gola attrib. (purchased in market)
Culture or time period:
Gola, Poro Society
Collector:
Warren L. d'Azevedo
Collection date:
1967
Materials:
Wood (plant material)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Masks (costume)
Function:
5.3 Objects relating to the Secular and Quasi-religious Rites, Pageants, and Drama
Accession date:
1967
Context of use:
Named for one of the classes of "Poro" Society masked and dancing spirit impersonators. They are a representative of sub-secret society association.
Department:
Africa (except Ancient Egypt)
Dimensions:
height 51.5 centimeters
Loans:
S2009-2010 #7: SFO Museum (February 1, 2010–January 20, 2011)
Images:
Hearst Museum object 1 of 4 titled Helmet mask, accession number 5-6250, described as “Poro” Society helmet mask, “Gbetu” of brown stained gum wood with incised geometric designs; carved cylindrical extension at top surmounted by anthropomorphic head. Height extension 24 cm. Total height 51.5 cm. Named for one of the classes of “Poro” Society masked and dancing spirit impersonators. They are a representative of sub-secret society association.Hearst Museum object 2 of 4 titled Helmet mask, accession number 5-6250, described as “Poro” Society helmet mask, “Gbetu” of brown stained gum wood with incised geometric designs; carved cylindrical extension at top surmounted by anthropomorphic head. Height extension 24 cm. Total height 51.5 cm. Named for one of the classes of “Poro” Society masked and dancing spirit impersonators. They are a representative of sub-secret society association.Hearst Museum object 3 of 4 titled Helmet mask, accession number 5-6250, described as “Poro” Society helmet mask, “Gbetu” of brown stained gum wood with incised geometric designs; carved cylindrical extension at top surmounted by anthropomorphic head. Height extension 24 cm. Total height 51.5 cm. Named for one of the classes of “Poro” Society masked and dancing spirit impersonators. They are a representative of sub-secret society association.Hearst Museum object 4 of 4 titled Helmet mask, accession number 5-6250, described as “Poro” Society helmet mask, “Gbetu” of brown stained gum wood with incised geometric designs; carved cylindrical extension at top surmounted by anthropomorphic head. Height extension 24 cm. Total height 51.5 cm. Named for one of the classes of “Poro” Society masked and dancing spirit impersonators. They are a representative of sub-secret society association.
Legacy documentation:
Documentation associated with Hearst Museum object titled Helmet mask, accession number 5-6250, described as “Poro” Society helmet mask, “Gbetu” of brown stained gum wood with incised geometric designs; carved cylindrical extension at top surmounted by anthropomorphic head. Height extension 24 cm. Total height 51.5 cm. Named for one of the classes of “Poro” Society masked and dancing spirit impersonators. They are a representative of sub-secret society association.

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