A wooden sculpture - Prampram - Ghana

Prampram Mask - Southern Ghana, incl stand. This unusual wooden mask is dominated by a powerful, elongated oval face, its features reduced to a few basic characteristics. Small, dark-rimmed eyes, a long nose, and a barely suggested mouth break the solid surface. Above the crown rises a second, highly simplified human figure with a spherical head, large eyes, and outstretched arms. Remnants of a textile fastening connect the two elements. The weathered, partially flaking red paint gives the object a striking, almost archaic quality. Perforations on the sides suggest earlier attachment or additions. Prampram is located on the southeastern coast of Ghana and belongs to the cultural sphere of the Dangme people. The masks and figures known by this name constitute a rare group of works that has thus far been insufficiently researched. Their unusual formal language may point to regional connections between coastal and inland traditions. Use in shrines or communal rituals is conceivable. The precise meaning of the small figure at the top of the head and the original function of the mask remain unclear. Literature (selection): B. K. Dogbe: “The Human Form as a Central Theme in Art.” In: Image, 1977. Herbert M. Cole / Doran H. Ross: The Arts of Ghana. Los Angeles 1977. Marion Kilson: Kpele Lala: Ghanaian Religious Songs and Symbols. Cambridge, Massachusetts 1971. Some of the information and photos are generated by artificial intelligence and is based on published sources from the fields of ethnography, archaeology, and art history documents. All information and photos are protected by copyright. Inv. No. MAZ30359

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