The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of December 19, 2025

Helmet Mask

mid- to late 1800s

Africa, West Africa, Mali, Malinke-style blacksmith-carver

Wood and probably resin
Overall: 47 cm (18 1/2 in.)
Andrew R. and Martha Holden Jennings Fund 2004.84
Location: 108A African

Did You Know?

Holes along the top ridge of this mask once held a crest made of cane, red fibers, and cowrie shells.

Description

Combining animal and human traits, this example of a genre of mask called suruku, meaning “hyena,” most likely belonged to the Korè, one of six power associations that the Malinke would have adopted from their Bamana neighbors. The Korè is concerned with the circumcision and initiation of male youths into adulthood. The mask probably served as one of the symbols of the different Korè classes.
  • 1927–1996
    Leonce and Pierre Guerre by purchase
    1996
    (Loudmer, Arts Primitifs: Collection Pierre Guerre, Paris, June 20, 1996, Lot #5, sold to Helene and Philippe Leloup)
    1996–2004
    Helene and Philippe Leloup, given to Madame Hérica Ravel
    2004
    Madame Hérica Ravel, Castera Verduzan, FR, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art
    2004–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
    Provenance Footnotes
    1 It is believed that Madame Ravel is one of Helene and Pilippe Leloup's daughters
  • Petridis, Constantine. "New Acquisitions of African Art at the Cleveland Museum of Art". African Arts. (44) No. 1, Spring 2011. Pg. 55, Fig. 3.
    Petridis, Constantine, "Celebrating Bamanaya", Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland Art: The Cleveland Museum of Art Members Magazine. Vol. 46 no. 02, February 2006 Mentioned & reproduced: p. 8 archive.org
    Cleveland Museum of Art. The CMA Companion: A Guide to the Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2014. Mentioned and reproduced: P. 28
  • {{cite web|title=Helmet Mask|url=false|author=|year=mid- to late 1800s|access-date=19 December 2025|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2004.84