Anthropomorphic mask "andumbulu" ·  Mali, Dogon · ID: 3032266

Description

wood, encrusted brown patina, the face framed by ridges formed by hairline and beard, enclosing even the sides of the face, typical sharp cut nose and Dogon hat, protruding mouth part with central deepening, slightly dam., cracks, indigenous repair (right cheek), rep. (lobe-like tip of the hat);
“andumbulu” is a mythical being which had been created by “amma”, long before mankind came into being. It is said to be the most important mask type of the whole region. Presumably it was perfomed on final commemorative ceremonies for important Dogon elders “dama”. During his research in the 1930s Marcel Griaule documented more than 70 different mask types, representing animals, birds, human characters, and abstract concepts, which he considered to be a visual summary of the world surrounding the Dogon people.

The object Anthropomorphic mask “andumbulu” with the object ID 3032266 was last part of the auction 68th tribal art auction at March 3, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 153 achieved a sales price of EUR 6,000.

You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.

Comparing literature

Bilot, Alain, Masques du pays Dogon, Paris 2001, p. 184 f. Ezra, Kate, Art of the Dogon, New York 1988, p. 73

Publications

Afrique Noire, Sculptures Des Collections Privées Suisses, La Chaux-De-Fond, Musée Des Beaux-Arts, 1971, No 446