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Culture
Bete people
Creation date
early 20th century
Materials
wood, pigment, leather, hair, iron
Dimensions
10 9/16 x 6 1/2 x 5 in.
Credit line
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison Eiteljorg
Accession number
1989.354
Currently On View In
Eiteljorg Suite of African and Oceanic Art - W305
Bete maskers are protective agents and embody spiritual forces. They appear at entertainment activities and other public festivals, funerals, trials, inter-village treaty ceremonies and during hunting and war activities. The relatively naturalistic appearance of this mask is unusual, since most Bete masks have distorted features and resemble those of the We.
