Description:

West Africa, Mali, Bamana (also Bambara or Banmana), ca. 20th century. A beautiful example of a Chiwara - also Tji Wara - a ritual mask used by the Bamana people, in the form of a wooden antelope carving perched atop a hemispherical, basketry headdress, all adorned with fabric, tassels, cowrie shells, stippled strips of brass, and incised striations. The crouching animal displays a slender body with a spiraling tail at one end and a sizeable head at the other, featuring a projecting snout and swooping, elongated horns that join at the tips. To the Bamana peoples, the antelope is regarded as a mythical being who taught humankind how to farm. The word tji means "work" and the word wara means "animal." Hence, tji wara means "working animal." Size: 28.7" L x 8" W x 14.3" H (72.9 cm x 20.3 cm x 36.3 cm)

Provenance: ex-private Bishop Family Trust collection, the Trust of the late Bill Bishop, a noted antiquarian with shops in Scottsdale, Arizona and Allenspark, Colorado, USA, acquired before 2010

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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.

#173855

  • Condition: Professionally repaired with some minor losses and infill along break lines. Some nicks and minor chips in areas. Weathering with fraying and staining to fabric and tassels. Otherwise, nice preservation of incised and stippled detail and rich patina throughout.

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August 11, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
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Artemis Fine Arts

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