Bobo-Bwa, Burkina Faso: an old, tall plank mask-85/17.7 CM. Such tall plank masks’dance’ alongside the Bwa mask people during large harvest mask festivals. The lower mask, round face mask part of this style of mask, called’Bayiri’, represents the head of an owl. The hooked projections symbolise the beak of the hornbill. Bird representations often appear on Bobo-Bwa masks in different variations. This is because birds embody the connection between the world of man and the world of the supernatural. The present plank mask is designed in the typical relief-style of the Bobo-Bwa. The owl face has large, round eyes – each one formed of three black-dyed circles in relief. It has a short, hooked beak as well as an open rhombus-shaped mouth with teeth. A handle for the dancer is placed under the oval shaped owl’s head of this tall, heavy mask. The alternating black and white colouring of individual surfaces of the relief is characteristic of Bobo-Bwa masks. This is achieved by means of soot-dye and kaolin. The front side of the towering plank, with its four hooked projections, is covered with a black and white triangular pattern, whereas the reverse, with three hooks, shows a black and white chessboard pattern. The mask is finished with a white half moon above. An original patina covers the item. Authentic Antique Hand Fine Old Gu Guro mask African mask 2070. African Tribal Art Owie Kimou, Portrait Mask Wood Mask Vintage Hand Carved 1598. New listing African art Vintage Hand Guro mask’s Mask Authentic Antique Hand Carved -1716. African Art mask African Mask Fang Mask Mask Burkina Faso 1459. This item is in the category “Collectibles\Cultures & Ethnicities\African\1900-Now\Masks”. The seller is “naga_4823″ and is located in this country: US. This item can be shipped worldwide.
- Provenance: Ownership History Not Available
- Time Period Manufactured: 1600-1900
- Country/Region of Manufacture: Burkina Faso
- Handmade: Yes
- Modified Item: No
- Culture: African