Bamana — Mali, probably Koulikoro region
Late 19th or early 20th century
Wood and pigment
Height: 18¼ in (46.4 cm)
Provenance: Allison Davis (1902–1983), Chicago, IL
This ngon monkey mask is carved with a domed forehead, elongated flat face, prominent central nasal ridge, and four square openings arranged in pairs on either side. The form is severe and minimal, relying on proportion and structure rather than decorative detail, with a dark aged patina and worn surface consistent with use and extended age. The sculptural force of the mask derives from the compression of animal character into an almost abstract geometric form.
Masks of this type are associated with the Bamana cultural zone of Mali, with related examples linked to the Koulikoro region at the center of that zone. The piece was formerly in the collection of Allison Davis (1902–1983), the American educator, anthropologist, and social researcher whose work on race, class, and human development made him one of the most significant American scholars of the twentieth century — the first African American to hold a tenured professorship at a major research university.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Bamana — Mali, probably Koulikoro region
Late 19th or early 20th century
Wood and pigment
Height: 18¼ in (46.4 cm)
Provenance: Allison Davis (1902–1983), Chicago, IL
This ngon monkey mask is carved with a domed forehead, elongated flat face, prominent central nasal ridge, and four square openings arranged in pairs on either side. The form is severe and minimal, relying on proportion and structure rather than decorative detail, with a dark aged patina and worn surface consistent with use and extended age. The sculptural force of the mask derives from the compression of animal character into an almost abstract geometric form.
Masks of this type are associated with the Bamana cultural zone of Mali, with related examples linked to the Koulikoro region at the center of that zone. The piece was formerly in the collection of Allison Davis (1902–1983), the American educator, anthropologist, and social researcher whose work on race, class, and human development made him one of the most significant American scholars of the twentieth century — the first African American to hold a tenured professorship at a major research university.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
