Africa, Burkina Faso, Bobo culture, ca. early 20th century CE. A fascinating, huge, hand-carved wood mask with a large tripartite wooden crest, a long face, deep-set eyes, and a dangling nose piece attached with twine. The edges are drilled to attach it to cloth or another kind of textile covering. The face is painted a blue-green and the crest a brown-red. It represents a supernatural bush spirit in the story of a clan's history. Size: 11.5" L x 9.5" W x 37.25" H (29.2 cm x 24.1 cm x 94.6 cm)

Bobo masks are intended to entertain, but they are believed to also possess a sacred character that is present in all masks. They are made by blacksmiths, who are considered in Bobo culture to have a mystical connection with mysterious unseen powers - smiths are believed to occupy a liminal state between the earthly and spiritual realms and therefore only they possess the knowledge and strength to carve wooden masks and regulate their magical forces. Mask imagery commonly uses large geometric shapes to combine stylized features of humans, animals, insects, and birds. Bobo people wear the masks with colorful cloths sewn onto them that cover the entire body. They use them at initiation ceremonies, funerals, and other important events in the community.

Provenance: ex-Adeon Gallery, Chicago, IL, USA acquired prior to 1970

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#118565

Two of the three parts of the helmet have losses on their back sides. Used surface, with nice remaining pigment.