Anthropomorphic mask "satimbe"
Description
wood, brown patina, black paint/strongly encrusted in some areas, small remains of painting with red and white pigment, box-shaped mask with pierced see holes, crowned by a free standing female figure, sacrificial traces, cracks, abrasion of paint, traces of old age and weathering.
The Dogon have a large number of different types of masks, which all belong to the “awa” societies, and appear during the funeral ceremonies of the “dama”. These ceremonies are held every two or three years to honour those elders, who had died in the intervening years. The “satimbe” mask is also used in the “dama” festivities, but upholds a special position. It represents “yasigine”, the oldest sister of the masks (“sigui”) and the only woman in the village of the “awa” society who is allowed to dance. Literally translated “satimbe” means “sister of the head”.