Mask CHIBIGI
Ethic & Tropic crafts masks with care. Artisans use sustainable materials and traditional techniques to create eco-friendly, stylish face coverings. Each mask is a blend of ethics and tropical flair, making safety a fashion statement. Read more
Corinne Bally has been collaborating with these tribes for more than 9 years and offers the design of these incredible art objects. She works personally with each artisan and adapts her demand to each one's own style.
Halfway between a ritual object and a modern work of art, these masks are unique pieces in the world.
This nemboro can be used as a wall decoration or placed on a piece of furniture with or without a stand (sold separately).
CRAFTSWOMAN: Teodocia
MATERIAL: Palm leaves, common palm "Chunga" (Astrocaryum standleyanum) and Nahuala.
COLLECTION: Corinne Bally Selection
SIZE: M
LENGTH: 26 centimeters
WIDTH: 22 centimeters
DEPTH: 13 centimeters
GENDER: FELINO
Objects of art and decoration, these extraordinary masks have their origin in the beliefs and shamanic rites of the Central American Indians of the Wounaans and Emberas tribes.
The Indians divide the world into two, a visible world and a parallel, invisible world. "The great superiority of this parallel world, of this universe of shadows is that it can observe men while men cannot see it" writes Jean-Marie Le Clezio.
Thanks to the intervention of shamans, they communicate with the spirits "Haï" spirits of Nature that hide in animals as well as in plants.
The mask or "nemboro" allows the shaman during the ritual to take the appearance of a spirit of the invisible world and to enter in communication with this world.
After its use, the mask that has "danced" is destroyed because it is still charged and no one but the shaman is allowed to touch it. That is why there are no ancient pieces.
ELABORATION
Our masks are made like the masks used for rituals.
They are made with palm leaves from a common palm tree called Chunga. First the most tender parts are removed, dried and bleached.
Then they are dyed with natural and vegetable dyes such as fruit pulp, wood flakes, seeds, leaves or roots. Sometimes several color baths are needed.
It is only after this long preparation work that the fabulous work of creation begins, which requires not only a great artistic sense but also the mastery of an incredible know-how possessed only by the women of the tribes.
MAINTENANCE
Do not wet, protect from rain