Masque de singe Dege - Wood - Mali - Late 19th century

Dege Monkey mask. Dogon, Mali. Late 19th, early 20th century. Wood. Height: 33 cm - Length: 17 cm. The eyes are incised to form two rectangles placed on each side of the nasal ridge. The upper part is curved and flanked by two little ears. The Dege mask refers to the baboon. This mask is used in dances during the Dama ceremony. Many zoomorphic masks are used on this occasion: antelopes, lions, hyenas, zebus, some birds and monkeys such as this one. The latter refer to wild and sometimes dangerous behaviours.