Lot 108
**First Time At Auction**
West Africa, Mali, ca. mid 20th century CE. A hand-carved and hand-painted wooden Bozo puppet depicting a brilliantly colorful tropical bird, with a gingham green and beige fabric "neck" for the user's arm. The curved two-part beak of this puppet, painted with repeated diamond-motifs of red, green, and dark blue against a light beige ground, resembles that of the African hornbill. The head also presents inlaid green glass eyes, and probably once had a circular structure on top similar to those of crowned cranes (interestingly found in East Africa). See the extended description below for further understanding of the Bozo (water spirit) iconography. Size: 25.75" W x 22" H (65.4 cm x 55.9 cm)
As per scholar Elisabeth den Otter, "According to legend, the Bozo are descendants of Faro, the water spirit and creator god. They are seen as the inventors of the masquerade tradition in Mali. Another group from the area also with a strong masquerade tradition, the Bamana, are putting on a grand spectacle here in Segou too with their own puppets and masks. The Bamana have always been connected to the land as farmers. Their puppets and masks differ from the Bozos aquatic animals, representing animals of the bush and domestic animals, as well as spirits and human beings."
Kono birds that announce the rains are important elements in traditional rituals. According to den Otter, "The birds, with beautiful large painted beaks prance slowly in loose formation on the sand, flapping their wings and bending their necks. The singers praise the birds character and its importance in the lives of the people: You, bird be welcome/ Malikono, you are popular/ Bird of the river, the water of the river has inundated the field
Bird of the river, you do not have a father/ Bird of the river, the animal has left no place to lie down/ Bird of the river, Allah is your support.'"
Provenance: ex-Adeon Gallery, Chicago, IL, acquired prior to 1970.
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.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#119091
- Condition: Missing upper decorative crest. Minor losses to material securing both sections of the beak. Surface wear and pigment loss commensurate with use.
Accepted Forms of Payment:
Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Shipping
Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense
Artemis Fine Arts
You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.
View full terms and conditions
| From: | To: | Increments: |
|---|---|---|
| $0 | $299 | $25 |
| $300 | $999 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $1,999 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $4,999 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $19,999 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $49,999 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $99,999 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $25,000 |