Gobé Koné, +1951

Gobé Koné from Gbon is one of the old Fono masters. He worked in an excellent casting technic. The surface of his thin masks are flawless and smooth. In total there are 11 masks documentated. All have the same size and shape. Gobé did use a template made of clay, were he formed the main shape of the mask. His fine and fragile decoration elements are always different and vary in each mask.

Songuimai Koné (*1933 +1996) was Gobé Koné's son, who also worked as a Fono. Same as Gobé's brother, Ziemogo Koné (+1985), who casted more Gniniguefobele statues than masks.

Gobe Kone Kpelie mask Senufo Kpelié Senoufo masque
Kpelié mask by Gobé Koné
Kpelie mask Senufo Senoufo Masque Gobe Kone

 

Kpelié mask, casted by Gobé Koné, Fono from Gbon. +1951. Time of creation around 1930. Collected by Karl-Heinz Krieg

24,0 x 12,5 x 4,0 cm, bronze alloy.

 

Literature:

- Wenn Brauch Gebrauch beeinflusst, Markus Ehrhard, page 128 - 129.