Divination Object (Gbaule)
early 20th century
We
Arts of Africa
This object creates a frightening and otherworldly effect. Gbaule are divination objects used by the We to determine the causes of illness and to identify evil forces. A diviner holds the gbaule while in a trance. He is asked questions, and the movement of the gbaule indicates a response.
The divination society associated with this object was created by a man of the neighboring Krou people who had served as a soldier in France in World War I, and it became quite popular in the following decade. This origin explains why a head such as this one is also called a commandant.
The divination society associated with this object was created by a man of the neighboring Krou people who had served as a soldier in France in World War I, and it became quite popular in the following decade. This origin explains why a head such as this one is also called a commandant.
- Maker/Artist
- We
- Classification
- Masks
- Formatted Medium
- Clay, feathers, porcupine quills, cloth, aluminum, cowrie shells, leather, glass, rattan, rice heads, hair, wood, pigment
- Medium
- clay, feathers, porcupine, quills, cloth, aluminum, cowrie, shells, leather, glass, rattan, rice, heads, hair, wood, pigment
- Locations
- Possible place made: Liberia, Possible place made: Moyen-Cavally Region, Liberia
- Dimensions
- 22 1/2 x 16 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (57.2 x 41.9 x 8.9 cm)
- Departments
- Arts of Africa
- Accession Number
- 1992.196.3
- Credit Line
- Gift of Blake Robinson
- Exhibitions
- African Innovations, Double Take: African Innovations
- Rights Statement
- Creative Commons-BY
- Museum Location
- This item is not on view
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