Healer's society cap mask · Côte d'Ivoire, Senufo · ID: 3041231
Alex Wittendorff, Copenhagen, Denmark
Description
wood, brown patina, domed cap with notched medial ridge and projecting ears, surmounted by a mighty pair of flattened inward curving horns, drilled holes around lower rim for attachment, dam., insect caused missing parts, rep. (breakage left horn), abrasion of paint;
the mask features the broad curving horns of the West African wild buffalo or bush cow, principle insignia of the elite society of healers “nookaariga”. The headdress is never seen in public, except when donned by members for highly secret initiation and healing rites, and is stored in the “kagba”. All members are reported to possess such a helmet.
The object Healer’s society cap mask with the object ID 3041231 was last part of the auction 84th Tribal Art Auction at November 5, 2016 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 92.
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Comparing literature
Barbier, Jean Paul (ed.), Art of Côte d' Ivoire, Vol II, Genève 1993, p. 17