ART WIKI 33,040 on view

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Where the masterpiece hangs, and when they let you in.

Collections: Art Institute of Chicago, Getty Villa, Harvard Art Museums, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, J. Paul Getty Museum, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Musée du Louvre, National Gallery of Art, National Museum of Asian Art, National Portrait Gallery (Smithsonian), Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, Rijksmuseum, Smithsonian American Art Museum, SMK — National Gallery of Denmark, State Hermitage Museum, State Russian Museum, The Cleveland Museum of Art, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Museum of Modern Art, Tretyakov Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum, Whitney Museum of American Art, State Catalogue of the Museum Fund of Russia (274 museums), Europeana (19 museums), Wikidata (6 museums), Paris Musées (12 museums), and Joconde, the French Ministry of Culture's museum database (495 museums). Images belong to their rights holders.

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Art Institute of Chicago
Elephant Mask (Vi)

Elephant Mask (Vi), Guro, Late 19th/early 20th century

Elephant Mask (Vi)

Late 19th/early 20th century · Mask

May one see it?

Not receiving at present

Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago, United States

It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.

Checked: 9 days ago
In this state since: Aug 19, 2026
Source: The museum

On the map Museum page

About the sculpture

This mask with elephant features belongs to a masquerade tradition known as Dje that is practiced in the southern Guro region. It is one of several animal characters that are incarnations of dangerous spirits called yo. These masks’ supernatural powers protected the village and its inhabitants against witchcraft, drought, famine, disease, and other threats. Voluminous fiber costumes amplified the Dje dancers’ movements during spectacular, hours-long acrobatic performances that could only be attended by men.

Art Institute of ChicagoCC BY 4.0

Particulars

Accession number: 1971.883

What it shows

In the catalog

Sculpture Wood Post-war art 20th century Guro Arts of Africa Akan African Art Coastal West Africa Côte d'Ivoire

Sources

Art Institute of Chicago
Image: Art Institute of Chicago — © the artist or rights holder

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