Zemanek-Münster

Ape mask "ngon" ·  Mali, Bamana · ID: 3037584

not available anymore
Size
H: 29 cm
H: 11.4 inch

Description

light brown wood, dark brown patina, pierced sickle-shaped eyes, small ears situated on the forehead, provided with small metal rings, pierced around the rim, rep. (breakage at the back of the head), cracks, traces of abrasion;
the “ngon” mask represents the Guinea baboon (Papio papio) and appears during “sogobo” masquerades, “tjiwara” performances and “korè” initiations. In Bamana thought, monkeys are generally associated with young boys and with the passage of boys to men through initiation.


The object Ape mask “ngon” with the object ID 3037584 was last part of the auction 78th tribal art auction at October 18, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 155.

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

Colleyn, Jean Paul (Hg.), Bamana, Zürich 2001, p. 106


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