The Secret Behind the African Mask
By David
Norden
Editor's Summary: Reading this interview will allow one
to learn more about tribal masks and their fascinating history.
Learn the various usages of African masks, the different types of
masks that exist and their ages.
An interview between Frank Heirmann and David Norden:
How to you become an expert?
"It is like Jazz Music, most don't get a clue, because you must
listen to it much and for a long time. You must see thousands of
mask before understanding the mystery. The Nordens have been antique
dealers for three generations. My mother collected African art and
from the age of 6 I went with her to auctions. My father had from
time to time African art in his shop on the Lange Leemstraat, but
my mother kept the best pieces for herself. My father wasn't really
an afro-specialist in the same way as my brother Jacob who took
up the family shop specialized in antique music instruments. I too
had the African virus and opened a double antique shop on the Sint-Jorispoort
in 1992 - one for general antiques and one for tribal art. In 1998,
I was able to buy a house in the Sint Katelijnevest and started
to specialise more on African masks and statues."
What is the use of Masks?
"Masks are coming from animistic cultures, tribes who don't believe
in one single god, but rather try to live in harmony with the ancestors’
spirits and nature’s forces. For the ritualistic ceremonies they
carve masks and statues that are "empowered" by the village sorcerer.
It is only after this empowerment that the masks can call upon the
spirits and nature’s forces."
How many different kind of masks exist?
"The Masks are 'danced' during ceremonies. You have death masks
for funerals, masks used during the harvest, hunting masks, initiation
masks. Many tribes also have disease masks to prevent and heal.
The Pende tribe from Congo has splendid objects that show a split
tormented personality. Animal figures generally symbolise the forces
of nature. The significance of certain masks, however, is still
not known."
How old are these masks?
"For an African it's not the age which is essential. Every generation
makes new masks. But some special samples are kept for generations.
For an antique dealer and a collector a mask must be at least fifty
years old, preferably with a traceable pedigree – a documented line
of ownership confirming the age of the item. Typically, this means
that it has been recorded who brought it back from the colonies,
or better, that it was exposed a Museum’s permanent or temporary
collections. The best masks are coming from the interbellum, the
most valuable pieces were already exposed before the First World
War. In Museums you can find masks whish are more than 600 years
old, but these are historical curiosities."
Are there many fakes?
"Absolutely. There are two kinds of fakes. The "airport art" means
pieces carved fast for the tourist market. These masks have never
been danced or used. Then you have the more sophisticated fakes,
items artificially made to look older and that give the impression
of having been used in rituals. Only experts can tell the difference.
There are laboratories that can date objects, but science doesn't
know everything either. The style, the patina, and the way it has
been carved give more clues to the experts. Real collectors buy
only from specialists who can give them some guarantees. In case
of doubt, I take pieces back without problem."
Price ticket?
"You get a nice tourist mask at 50 euros, a fine mask half a century
old will easily cost 2,000 euros. Top pieces can go up to 200,000
euros. For most people these expensive masks are not relevant because
they simply couldn’t tell the difference."
Who are the collectors then?
"With globalisation the interest in ethnic art has grow rapidly.
In 1998, I started a website that now gets 3,000 visitors each week.
The site has an international discussion platform with 400 members.
Survey's showed that ethnographic art constitutes a mere two percent
of the general art on offer. But more and more people interested
in Western art, are now developing an interest in ethnic arts too.
They buy a piece occasionally. Really knowledgeable collectors are
rare. In Belgium I think they are only some 300. Luckily for me,
I sell worldwide to good clients."
How alive is the mask culture?
"We see a revival in Africa, led by financial and touristic reasons.
Also, animistic and tribal culture can be a way to express opposition
or resistance to the ( Christian or Islamic) colonialists. It reinforces
the identity".
Is there a relation with Carnival masks?
"Our disguises are a remnant from a far past. Did you know that
in Germany they found masks from the XIXth century looking very
similar to the African ones? Finally we are also animals, with a
layer of culture. Halloween, students baptism, groups with signs
or uniforms are in the same sphere as African mask rituals. Only
in our civilisation it became a game, whereas the African believes
in it."
David Norden
Sint Katelijnevest 27
B2000 Antwerpen
Belgium
Tel +32 (0)3 227.35.40
http://www.african-antiques.com
http://www.buyafricanantiques.com
Frank Heirmann.
Gazet van Antwerpen
http://www.gazetvanantwerpen.be/
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