John Geldersma

Shamans, male and female wood totems

2004

"Senufo (Gbon) Statute of Royalty" is a sculpture by thr Senufo peoples of Gabon. It is wood, mixed fiber, textiles, and cowry shells. 14" x 8" x 3" The...

"Fire Spiter's Mask/Senufo Mask of Worship Ceremonies" is made of wood and was created in the Ivory Coast circa 1930. This mask has to heads on either side...

"Bobo Mask of Dance" is a wood sculpture with painted accents. A human face with two protruding shapes make up the mask, while a long structure sit atop. 37...

"Mossi Head dress Mas ceremonies Rep Upper Volta" is a wood sculpture that includes various other materials such as fabric, and fibers. An abstracted animal with a hump and a bird on it's back make up the top of the headdress. 27" x 6" x 1" The Mossi states were created about 1500 A.D., when bands of horsemen rode north from what is now northern Ghana into the basin of the Volta River and conquered several less powerful peoples, including Dogon, Lela, Nuna, and Kurumba. These were integrated into a new society call Mossi, with the invaders as chiefs and the conquered as commoners. The Mossi make both political art and spiritual art. Figures are used by the ruling class to validate political power, and masks are used by the conquered peoples to control the forces of nature. The several mask styles reflect the diversity of the population before the 15th century invasion. Long tall masks...

"Bobo Mask Burkina Fasso-Upper Volta" is a wood carved sculpture with painted details. It features the image of an abstracted face with a large almost elepha...

This striking shield was realized in Papua New Guinea towards the end of the 19th century. The rectangular form in unfinished nubuck hued hardwood has been inscribed with white curvi...