Christopher
D. Roy Professor of the History of Art identified it as a quite
authentic Bwa Hombo mask
This impressive old Bwa mask in bronze with a crescent moon on top is very
expressive and rare.
It was used to celebrate boys passage initiation to adulthood, few masks in
bronze of the Bwa are known.
The mask wearer looks through a hole in the mouth. The mask was hold on the
beard and the textile helped the mask to stay in place.
The Bwa come from southern Mali and Burkina Faso. Clear signs of
offerings and aging.
NOT AVAILABLE.
This is a nice mask, with clear signs of use and age oxidation.
It gives me much pleasure, specially enjoy the eyebrows, like a little devil.
It come from a well known Dutch collection Harrie Heineman who wrote the
"the pleasure of collecting African Art". Got it from a Dutch
collector who got it directly from him before he died. Not sure if the mask is
inside the book, probably not. But I couldn't find the book to check it.
Read also about the Bwa and Harrie Heinemans collection (page 89) in this pdf
: http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/Articles/Spread_Mask_Styles_Roy.pdf
Also at http://www.uiowa.edu/~africart/Art%20of%20Burkina%20Faso.html
around 70% down the page is interesting reading about masks of Smiths where he
mention the existence of miniature metal masks, did not found any other metal
Bwa mask:
A mask with human features may have
added to it forward-curving antelope horns and a great bird's beak because it
represents a character of Dwo that does not take human or animal form.
Similarly, animal shapes do not mean the mask represents an animal, but recall
the spirit of an animal which saved the founding ancestor of the clan.
Allegorical and nonrepresentational, the masks incarnate the spirit of Dwo, the
son of Wuro. They have often been revealed in the form of miniature metal masks.
This fine and seldom Bwa mask is sold .
Make a new choice, since the Bwa-Bronze-mask below is not
available anymore. You can choose among the many available African Art from
David Norden collection, in following sections:
African
Masks
African Statues
African
Objects
African Art
books
Outside African Art
Let me know if I can do something for you,
David Norden
Sint Katelijnevest 27
B2000 Antwerpen
Belgium
+32 3 227.35.40
+32
3 227.35.40
Meet
David Norden at NYC Tribal Art Show 2012 in May