Description:

Africa, Mali, ca. early 20th century CE. This is a large carved wooden bust of a female puppet, with a carved, serious face, three dimensional head with pronounced hairstyle, inlaid tack eyes, and prominent breasts, all carved from a single piece of wood and ending in a long thin cylinder used for holding the puppet during performances. Puppets like these are carved in the region of Mali along the Niger and Bana rivers, near Segou, the former capital of the kingdom of Bamana (a large state in West Africa from ca. 1640 to 1861 CE). When first made, the puppets are brightly painted and elaborately costumed to be used in performances that are most often put on by youths in the farming and fishing villages in this area. The practice of carving and performing with these puppets is probably ancient and oral tradition takes it back as far as the Bozo, the descendants of the rulers of the medieval Ghana Empire. Puppets like this one are carved to represent life in the villages, and she probably represents a local character. Comes with custom stand. Size: 22.5" H (57.2 cm).

Provenance: Ex Jerome Eisenberg, NY, Royal Athena Galleries

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#112497

  • Condition: Minor chipping to the hair and excellent wood patina.

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May 12, 2016 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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