Zoömorphic mask – Wood – Bambara – Mali

Great  zoömorphic mask of the Bambara-tribe from equatorial Africa. It takes the form of a stylized monkey head with round eyes, a pair of ears and a open mouth. Good condition with traces of tribal use and a beautiful aged patina on the wood. The mouth seemed to be restored in the past. The Bambara originated as a royal section of the Mandinka people. They are founders of the Mali Empire in the 13th Century. Both Manding and Bambara are part of the Mandé ethnic group, whose earliest known history can be traced back to sites near Tichitt. The Bamana became the dominant cultural community in western Mali. The Bambara language, mutually intelligible with the Manding and Dyula languages, has become the principal inter-ethnic language in Mali and one of the official languages of the state alongside French. The Bamana people adapted many artistic traditions. Artworks were created both for religious use and to define cultural and religious difference. Provenance: former private Italian collection.

Object	Zoömorphic Mask
Ethnic group:	Bambara
Country:	Mali
Material:	Wood
Estimated period:	Mid 20th century
Sold with stand:	No
Dimensions:	26x20x16 cm
Weight:	1100 gram
Condition:	Good condition, used with some signs of wear