Face mask "karan wemba" · Burkina Faso, Mossi · ID: 3048749
Werner Zintl, Worms, Germany (2007)
Description
wood, the objects surface structure heavily marked by insect caused damage, indigenous repair, rest., base
Masks “karan wemba” were danced at the funeral of women who were particularly revered by the community because of their long, exemplary lives and wisdom.
The performance of the mask should not only honour the descendent, but also the female progenitor and founder of the clan, who is embodied by the female figure on top of the mask.
The object Face mask “karan wemba” with the object ID 3048749 was last part of the auction 98th Auction at March 26, 2022 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 38 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,200.
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Comparing literature
Roy, Christopher D., Land of the flying masks, München 2007, cat. 122