Antelope dance crest "tjiwara" ·  Mali, Bamana · ID: 3036608

Description

wood, partly shiny, dark brown patina, rising from a rectangular base with four holes for attachment, vertical (male) type, the elegant swing of the neck repeated by the mane which is arranged in three bows, dam., missing parts through insect caused damage, fine cracks, slight traces of abrasion, base;
the religious and social life of the Bamana people was determined by six initiation communities. Each level of initiation was represented by a special mask type. The “tijwara” headdress belongs to the fifth level. Its members had to encourage a good harvest by celebrating their masquerades.The masks used to appear in pairs male-female, symbolizing the sun and the earth and their meaning for human life.

The object Antelope dance crest “tjiwara” with the object ID 3036608 was last part of the auction 76th tribal art auction at March 22, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 137 achieved a sales price of EUR 5,500.

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Comparing literature

Colleyn, Jean Paul (Hg.), Bamana, Zürich 2001, p. 200, ill. 185