-40%

Bambara or Bamana Hyena Mask (#575)

$ 210.67

Availability: 73 in stock

Handmade: Yes

Country/Region of Manufacture: Mali

Modified Item: No

Condition: (1)The wood under the right eye by the nose is paper-thin and has warn through part of the way half way down the nose (see photo of front of mask). (2)The is a crack and split in the wood at the top of the mask (see photo of rear of mask). (3)The right side of the mask by the forehead appears to have been eaten by insects (see close up photo). (4)There is crack in the wood above the mouth. (5) There is a chip of wood mission on the left jaw line (see photo of rear of mask). (6)Paint faded, mask dusted not cleaned, has nicks and scratches.

Provenance: Ownership History Available

Description
Size Guide

Description

Ethnic Group and Region: Bambara, Mali (tag also refers to a similar Bamana mask at Sotheby’s)
Formerly Displayed: 5
th
Avenue Mask Museum, Hendersonville NC (# 575)
Tag on mask: Bambara (n’tomo—lined through); kore and a reference to Bamana at Sotheby’s.
Her note indicates that possibly a similar mask was being sold by Sotheby’s.
Measurements are approximate.
Mask height:
19 inches
Mask width:
8 1/2 inches
Mask depth:
6 1/2 inches
Material: Wood, hand carved
Acquired year: 1984 or 1986
Acquired from: Claud Miller
(Ladislas Segy, Dover Publications, Inc., 1976, 248 pp, ISBN 0-486-23181-X).
Ms. Hobbs’ notes indicate that masks of this type were used for initiations and agricultural festivals in supplication for the fecundity of the earth and sometimes for rain She cites Segy,
Masks of Black Africa
, as source, but does not provide a page reference (Ladislas Segy, Dover Publications, Inc., 1976, 248 pp, ISBN 0-486-23181-X).
Her sketch indicates this is a Bambara mask, but, given the notation on her tag, it appears that she might have considered the possibility that the mask is Bamana instead. The tag indicates that masks of this type were used by N’tomo or Kore societies. Ms. Hobbs lined through “n’tomo” and wrote “kore,” so it appears that she might have decided this type of mask was used in “kore” ceremonies
Information and the only claim with respect to authenticity about this mask are taken from notes and sketches by Ellen Hobbs. Her sketch is shown with the photos of the mask. No other representations of authenticity are made.