The item of analysis is the ‘Hunter’s Tunic’. The mask is designed to take on the appearance of a bearded man, probably to symbolise authority and seniority of the character portrayed by the wearer. The Hunter’s Tunic is a traditional mask from Lofa County in West Africa which dates back to the 20th century. The piece was crafted using cotton, hemp rope, and leather. It is decorated with cowrie shells, metal alloys, animal horns, and animal teeth.
The mask is made of soft materials which made it comfortable to wear thus the Hunter’s Tunic was utilised frequently. The cover depicts a bearded man in good health because, in the past, the African artists crafted their masks to represent the subject in their prime; good looking and healthy[1]. The mask designs were mainly inspired by the economic activities carried out within the societies like the ‘Hunter’s Tunic’ originated from a hunting community in West Africa[2].
The name of the mask implies that it was mainly used during hunting ceremonies to pray to the gods for a good hunt and safety during the expedition. The male likeness of the mask is an indicator of the structure of the society from which it comes. The Lofa County in the 20th century was most likely a patriarchal hunting community with the men being the breadwinners sourcing food for their families through hunting[3]. The cowrie shell decorations are a representation of wealth, dignity, and prosperity because they were used for trade transactions in historical Africa.
The Hunter’s Tunic, as indicated by its name, is a representation of a hunter from the Lofa County. The mask uses ancient symbolism to represent health, wealth, and male dominance within the community.
References
Clare, C. (2018). Historical Overview: From the 1600s to the Present. Retrieved from Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-africa/african-art-intro/a/historical-overview-from-the-1600s-to-the-present
Clarke, C. (2018, 12 13). Form and Meaning. Retrieved from Khan Academy: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-africa/african-art-intro/a/form-and-meaning
[1] Clarke, C. (2018, 12 13). Form and Meaning. Khan Academy
[2] Clare, C. (2018). Historical Overview: From the 1600s to the Present. Khan Academy
[3]
