African masks come from an animistic culture, a tribe that doesn't believe in one god, but tries to stay in harmony with all the ancestral spirits and forces of nature.
For ritual ceremonies, they distributed masks and figures that had been "authorized" by the village magician. It only follows this empowerment that masks can summon spirits and forces of nature.
How many types of masks are there?
They have death masks for funerals, masks used during harvesting, seeker masks, starting masks. There are several tribal art vendors who can provide you with a wide variety of African masks. Moreover, In New York several exhibitions are organized every year from where you can buy authentic african masks.
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Many tribes also have masks to stop and heal the disorder. The Pende tribe in Congo has fine items that reveal a tormented collective character. Animal figures usually symbolize the forces of nature. However, the meaning of a particular mask is not yet known.
How old is this mask?
"For African Americans, eras are not defining. Each generation makes masks. However, some characteristic patterns persist over the generations.
For antique dealers and collectors, the mask must be at least fifty years old and have a traceable family tree – a registered property composition that confirms the age of this product.
This usually means stating who brought him back to the colony, or better yet, that he was exposed to a temporary or permanent group at the museum.