Coffee cup and saucer, horned Senufo zoomorphic mask

Horns, beaks, jaws: among the Senufo, masks borrow their features from animals.

On the cup, a half-human, half-animal zoomorphic mask is drawn in black and grey pencil on a white background. The saucer is bordered by a black geometric frieze. This coffee cup and its saucer are our tribute to the iconic "Senufo zoomorphic mask".

🎭 The history of the mask

Among the Senufo of northern Côte d'Ivoire, many masks borrow their features from animals: horns, beaks, jaws. They appear during ceremonies related to the initiation society.

✨ What the pattern tells

The symbolism of the pattern lies in two ideas: the strength of the bush animals put at the service of the community, and the link between the world of men and that of the spirits. Giving this pattern is giving a reminder of this strength and this passage between worlds.

Our reinterpretation

The pattern moves from the mask to the piece: the mask is drawn on the cup, while a black geometric frieze borders the saucer. The colors are black, grey, and white. The mask drawn on the cup is the horned Senufo zoomorphic mask: a stylized animal head, curved horns and a protruding jaw, drawn in three-quarters. The power of the bush in a few lines. Each piece is decorated to order in our workshop in Alfortville, pattern prepared, applied and enameled by hand before firing.

At your table

At the end of the morning, on a light linen tablecloth, the light brings out the black and grey of the mask and the frieze of the saucer. To give to someone who appreciates objects carrying a link between men and spirits, echoing the symbolism of the mask.

Characteristics

• Contents: 1 coffee cup and its saucer.
• Colors: black, grey, white.
• Material: porcelain.
• Dimensions: coffee cup 9 cl, saucer Ø 12 cm.
• Personalization: colors, first name, date or short message upon request; mask of your choice from hundreds of African-inspired models, drawn from authentic representations kept in museums, coming from all countries of Africa, according to what touches or marks the person.
• In case of breakage: replacement of the item possible (same pattern, same dimensions), as long as the shape remains in the catalog.
• In the same pattern: coffee cup.

Write to us to personalize your cup and make this mask dialogue with your table, echoing the strength of the bush and the link between worlds.