**Originally Listed at $300**

West Africa, Mali, Bamana or Bozo peoples, ca. early 20th century CE. Made of hand-carved wood elements connected with iron rods and wearing a simple cloth shift tied on with string, this is an articulated puppet created for use by a village youth association. The figure has long arms and legs bent at the knee; its hair painted black and styled in a mullet-like coiffure. The face has a heavy brow, long, thin nose, and no mouth. Size: 4.25" W x 15.5" H (10.8 cm x 39.4 cm)

A curatorial description of a similar piece at the Metropolitan Museum of Art describes the puppet performances: "For the puppet performances a small mobile stage is covered with cloths or grasses concealing the men inside, who move the stage across the dance area. Fitted in front with a wooden animal head with articulated jaws, the stage is itself a large puppet. In addition small carved heads or figures with movable limbs poke out from the top and are made to twirl and dance. Sometimes men wearing face or helmet masks perform alongside the puppets. The puppets and masks depict animals, fantastic creatures, and characters from village life-the farmer, the soldier, the mother, and so forth. Through the movements of the puppets and the songs that accompany them, the youth association is able to comment on the social and political life of the community."

Provenance: Ex-Adeon Gallery, Chicago, IL, acquired prior to 1970.

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#118583

Dark wood patina; small loss to front of hair. Textile shows some darkening commensurate with age.