20th C. Mali Polychrome Wood Helmet Mask Human Puppet
West Africa, Mali, Bozo peoples, 20th century. An impressive helmet mask intended to be worn on top of the head, featuring a human figural puppet brandishing an intimidating gun and sitting atop the head of an antelope sporting huge black horns adorned with alternating red and white dot motifs. The animal's head is painted bright white with its eyes, nose, and mouth delineated in black and red, while the interiors of its ears are embellished with golden yellow pigment. The base of the helmet mask is covered with a cloth presenting a lovely foliage pattern in aqua, spring green, golden orange, and black hues. The puppet figure wears a cloth garment adorned with a brown on cream zigzag pattern, and the puppeteer can place a hand beneath this garment in order to move the figure's arms. A handsome example of this wonderful artform from the Bozo people of Mali! Size: 26.5" L x 20.75" W x 28.5" H (67.3 cm x 52.7 cm x 72.4 cm); 37.5" H (95.2 cm) on included custom stand.
Provenance: ex-Casaohiri Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#167027
Condition Report: Age cracks to animal and human heads. One of the animal's ears is loose, but could easily be reattached. Normal scuffs, nicks, and abrasions commensurate with age and use, but the details and coloration are still quite vivid. The human figure's arms can be moved in order to "aim and shoot" by operating beneath the figure's garment. Some separation to seam of textile around animal's neck. Minor fraying to peripheries of textiles. Otherwise, textiles are in very nice condition save some minor wear.
View it on
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
West Africa, Mali, Bozo peoples, 20th century. An impressive helmet mask intended to be worn on top of the head, featuring a human figural puppet brandishing an intimidating gun and sitting atop the head of an antelope sporting huge black horns adorned with alternating red and white dot motifs. The animal's head is painted bright white with its eyes, nose, and mouth delineated in black and red, while the interiors of its ears are embellished with golden yellow pigment. The base of the helmet mask is covered with a cloth presenting a lovely foliage pattern in aqua, spring green, golden orange, and black hues. The puppet figure wears a cloth garment adorned with a brown on cream zigzag pattern, and the puppeteer can place a hand beneath this garment in order to move the figure's arms. A handsome example of this wonderful artform from the Bozo people of Mali! Size: 26.5" L x 20.75" W x 28.5" H (67.3 cm x 52.7 cm x 72.4 cm); 37.5" H (95.2 cm) on included custom stand.
Provenance: ex-Casaohiri Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance), we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#167027
Condition Report: Age cracks to animal and human heads. One of the animal's ears is loose, but could easily be reattached. Normal scuffs, nicks, and abrasions commensurate with age and use, but the details and coloration are still quite vivid. The human figure's arms can be moved in order to "aim and shoot" by operating beneath the figure's garment. Some separation to seam of textile around animal's neck. Minor fraying to peripheries of textiles. Otherwise, textiles are in very nice condition save some minor wear.
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
