Loma Toma Mask Guinea

$298.95 Buy It Now or Best Offer, $46.19 Shipping, 30-Day Returns, eBay Money Back Guarantee
Seller: Top-Rated Seller africadirect ✉️ (59,831) 99.8%, Location: Denver, CO, US, Ships to: WORLDWIDE & many other countries, Item: 375325134740 Loma Toma Mask Guinea.

Loma Toma Mask Guinea
Brand Unbranded
Type of Object Mask
Country of Origin Guinea
People Toma/Loma
Materials Wood, string, metal
Approximate Age Mid 20th century
Height (in) 22
Width (in) 8.5
Depth (in) 4.5
Overall Condition Good. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners.   Small splits, scrapes and cracks are a normal part of their patina attesting to their age and extensive use.  We examine each piece carefully when we receive it and report any damage we find in our listings.  Please look carefully at the pictures which may also reveal condition and damage.
Damage/Repair Chip at the inside bottom part of the mask. A few scratches and worn areas, see photos for details.

The Loma people, also known as the Toma in Guinea, are a small ethnic group with a population of around 200,000 people. They can be found in Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia. The Loma/Toma people place great importance on their male secret society known as Poro. The Poro society is primarily responsible for the initiation of boys into manhood and serves as a means of social control within the community.

 

Within the Poro society, powerful leaders hold badges of office and symbols that are reserved for them. These symbols and badges of office hold significant influence over the initiates and are uséd by the leaders to maintain social order and control.

 

During the initiation ceremonies of young boys into manhood, large masks are worn horizontally on the head and held by projecting horns. These masks play a prominent role in the initiation rituals and are considered sacred. They are believed to possess spiritual and symbolic significance, representing ancestral spirits and cultural values.

 

The masks are typically kept hidden from the uninitiated and are stored within the male secret Poro Society precinct in the "bush," a secluded area away from the general population. The secrecy surrounding these masks and the initiation rituals adds to their mystique and importance within the Loma/Toma society.

 

Overall, the Poro society and its associated rituals, including the use of masks, are integral to the cultural and social fabric of the Loma/Toma people. They play a significant role in shaping the identity and social structure of the community and are deeply valued and respected.

  

TB0922

**143011**

All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2023


Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers!
Please visit our About Us page.

Africa Direct, Inc. has been selling on eBay since 1997 and has received more than 56,000 positive feedbacks. It is owned by Eliza and Sara, who began the company after spending a year wandering southern Africa in a camper van with their multi-racial family. They have been honored with eBay's Hall of Fame award, and by eBay Giving Works, through which they have raised more than $125,000 in charity auctions.

Customer Service : We treasure our many long term customers, and will try to make you one of them! If you have problems, please tell us... we care!

Handling Time : We ship daily except Sundays and holidays. Most orders go out the same day, and all go out within 48 hours.

Returns : We want you to be happy with your purchase. You're welcome to return an item within 30 days in the same condition you received it--just let us know you're returning it. You may have either a credit or a refund for your purchase price, not including shipping both ways. If your original payment was made through PayPal, we'll refund you through PayPal; if you paid us directly with your credit card, we'll refund the credit card.

Combining Shipping : You are welcome to wait to pay, and to combine multiple items for shipping. We ask that you keep each order to 10 days or 10 items, whichever comes first--then start another order.

When you're ready, just send us a list of item numbers or an invoice request and we'll send you an invoice. You can pay by Paypal or credit card.

U.S. Shipping : Our staff take great care in packing our artwork, much of which is antique, irregularly-shaped, and fragile. The cost of labor and the special packing materials uséd is reflected in our shipping price. Our U.S. shipping charges also include insurance; we self-insure on smaller orders. For these reasons, our shipping and handling charges may be more than the price of postage. .

International Shipping : We ship dozens of international orders each week, to customers on every continent except Antarctica! The shipping charges included in our listings are for U.S. orders. Contact us for shipping charges to your country. We offer uninsured USPS First Class airmail, insured Priority airmail, and insured Express airmail to most parts of the world, depending on the weight, volume, and value of an item. We also ship via FedEx or DHL on request.

Import duties, taxes, and charges are NOT INCLUDED in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. Please check with your country's customs office to determine what these additional costs will be prior to bidding / buying. These charges are normally collected by the delivering freight (shipping) company or when you pick the item up -- do not confuse them for additional shipping charges. And please do not ask us to mark merchandise values below the actual value or mark items as "gifts"--U.S. and International government regulations prohibit such behavior.

Newsletter, previews and special offers : Sign up for our newsletter

Go to Africa Direct Store

eBay integration by
  • Age Level: Mid 20th Century
  • Brand: Unbranded
  • Country of Origin: Guinea
  • Item Height: 22.0
  • Item Length: 4.5
  • Item Width: 8.5
  • Maker: Toma/Loma Artisan
  • Material: Wood
  • Origin: Guinea
  • Original/Reproduction: Original
  • Style: None
  • Type: Mask
  • author: None

PicClick Insights - Loma Toma Mask Guinea PicClick Exclusive

  •  Popularity - 0 watchers, 0.0 new watchers per day, 7 days for sale on eBay. 0 sold, 1 available.
  •  Best Price -
  •  Seller - 59,831+ items sold. 0.2% negative feedback. Top-Rated Plus! Top-Rated Seller, 30-day return policy, ships in 1 business day with tracking.

People Also Loved PicClick Exclusive