Ram Mask

MOA: University of British Columbia

3416/1

Wooden painted mask of a ram. Thin, tapering face with O-shaped mouth, long ears and curling horns. Semi-circle design on top centre of head, painted a dark black-brown. Circle is decorated with diagonal and vertical incisions. Two columns of squares carved in low relief down centre of semi-circle. Two thin columns of rectangles, carved in low relief, run down centre of face, in between the eyes. Eyes are narrow and vertical, with raised edges. Done in white. Face is painted dark maroon. Horns are done in dark brown-black with the curled ends made of sheep horn, painted white. Ears of ram, hanging down between the face and horns, flare outwards from the face and are made of sheep horn, painted white. Two oval-shaped nostrils are above the mouth, with raised edges. Areas around eyes, mouth, nostrils and entirety of horns are painted dark brown-black and have incised decorations across them. Mask has small hole for mouth. The back rim of the mask is unpainted and has two holes along the top for ties.

  • History Of Use

    Goli masquerades, imported during the early twentieth century from the neighbouring Wan, are performed at funerals and popular entertainments.

  • Narrative

    Previously danced (along with ram mask 3416/2).

  • Iconographic Meaning

    In Baule mythology the ram is a spirit of agriculture.


  • Type of Item mask
  • Culture Baule
  • Material wood, paint, sheep horn
  • Measurements height 27.8 cm, width 15.9 cm, depth 14.0 cm (overall)

  • Previous Owner Kazuhiko Komatsu
  • Received from Kazuhiko Komatsu, Museum of Anthropology Acquisitions Budget

  • Made in Cote d'Ivoire

  • Creation Date during 1970
  • Ownership Date before December 18, 2019
  • Acquisition Date on December 18, 2019

  • Condition poor
  • Accession Number 3416/0001