Lot 149A
West Africa, Burkina Faso / Mali, Bobo / Bamana (Bambara) culture, early to mid-20th century CE. A rare helmet mask, carved from wood and enveloped in a thick, encrusted layer of mud plaster, sacrificial materials, feathers, and vegetal fibers. Rising from the domed surface are two tall, tapering horns or ears, symbolic of animal spirits such as antelope, and a sagittal crest. The surface bears evidence of long ritual use, with dense accretions built up over years of offerings, which may include blood, chewed kola nuts, and millet beer. Similar encrusted masks were created and worn by members of the Komo secret society, guardians of moral order and spiritual knowledge, during ceremonies that invoked ancestral spirits and protective forces. Size: 13.5" W x 25.5" H (34.3 cm x 64.8 cm)
The formation of a Mossi kingdom brought together numerous ethnic groups - such as the Bobo, Bwa, Gurunsi, Kurumba, and Lobi - and fostered cultural exchange, mutual influence, and assimilation across the region, a dynamic also reflected in neighboring peoples like the Bamana, whose artistic forms and cultural practices share many similarities.
Provenance: private Louisville, Kentucky, USA collection, acquired 1990-1998
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#193507
- Condition: Old losses to the wood along the rim. Stable cracks and fissures. Losses to encrusted surface layers. One horn is slightly loose.
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|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
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| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |