work facemasks

Beautiful hand-beadwork in black on black and pink on pink bring glamour to face masks by Made Suciati. The contoured pair is crafted of three layers of cotton and feature elastic loops covered in cotton for comfort. They are washable and reusable.

Stern and beautiful, this elegant mask represents the great king who founded the Nigerian town of Ife. Kobina Asmah works in native sese wood to carve the face, adding rich applications of embossed aluminum. The lips, ears and eyes are a deep red. "This is an oduduwa mask," he says. "The word means 'For God' in the Yoruba language."

This imposing mask depicts a personage that is somber in the face of death. Oblique eyes, a slender nose and full lips emerge from textured sheets of aluminum repousse. Carved and painted by hand, the mask is the work of Theophilus Sackey. An adinkra symbol on the forehead depicts a ladder. "Owuo atwedee is an Akan symbol of mortality," the artisan explains. "It is a reminder of the transitory nature of existence in this world, and of the imperative to live a good life to be a worthy soul in the afterlife."

Heir of the ancient Ghanaian culture, artisan Philip Dankwa handcrafts a marvelous African mask drawing inspiration from the region's old tales and traditional works. The artisan begins by carving a face on meticulously selected sese wood. Then, to finish his unique creation, Philip paints it by hand, all in a palette of dark hues and with natural fibers that add a rustic touch to the piece.

Hand-carved from sese wood in a curved shape, this African mask is nicknamed "banana." Ghanaian designer Theophilus Sackey works with local artisans to create this mask, which is given a blue and black painted finish.

This hand-carved mask by Wilson Aboagye personifies the artistic and cultural traditions of the Dagomba people from northern Ghana. Expertly carved from sese wood, the elongated face is marked with the unique scarifications of the Dagomba tribe.