West Africa, Mali, Bandiagara region, Bamana people, ca. late 19th early 20th century CE. A fascinating wooden mask depicting a pointed and angular face, hand-carved from a single piece of wood, with a pronged headdress. The visage is stylized with a jutting, ridged nose and drilled rectangular holes under the deep brow for the wearer to see. The pointed chin juts over a lower jaw to create a gaping mouth which is visible when the mask is in profile. A large three-pronged headdress rises from the top to symbolize the male gender of the mask. The surface of the wood is a pretty nut-brown hue that has become richer with age. Learn more about the Ntomo society that used comb-like headdresses like this example in the extended description below. Size: 16.5" L x 6.125" W (41.9 cm x 15.6 cm); 20.5" H (52.1 cm) on included custom stand.

Bamana people have six societies for men, and this mask is representative of the Ntomo, a society for boys before circumcision. They would dance with such masks during their initiation rituals, marking their transition from boys to men. The pronged headdress represents the seeds of creation from the god which created the universe. Interestingly, the number of prongs indicates the gender of the mask; the 3 on this mask indicates male.

Provenance: private Houston, Texas, USA collection, purchased from Hemingway Gallery, New York, New York, USA in 2006

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#162807

Stable pressure fissures and cracks. Perforation on top right between prongs. Old inactive insect holes and cavities across surface. Chips and losses to prongs, high pointed areas, and verso along rim. Nice patina to wood and weathering.