Healer's society cap mask "noo" · Côte d'Ivoire, Senufo · ID: 3038541
Allan Stone, New York, USA (acquired 1966)
Sotheby’s, New York, 15 November 2013, lot 60
Description
wood, matt blackish brown patina, remains of a coating with resin/clay, carved with buffalo horns, roosters crown and animal ears, drilled holes around the lower rim, remains of cord material, slightly dam., crack, metal base;
the horns of the West African wild buffalo or bush-cow are the principle insignia of the elite “nookaariga” society of healers. Its members are traditional herbalists and physicians. They undergo a rigorous training which includes learning the healing properties of a wide variety of plants and how to treat and cure an astonishing range of diseases and physical injuries. At the same time they are accredited with a mystical power that enables them to become transformed into the mythical bush-cow and original transmitter of healing knowledge. “To change into a wild bush-cow” is the literal meaning of “nookaariga”.
The object Healer’s society cap mask “noo” with the object ID 3038541 was last part of the auction 80th Tribal Art Auction at June 27, 2015 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 293 achieved a sales price of EUR 4,600.
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Comparing literature
Barbier, Jean Paul (ed.), Art of Côte d' Ivoire, Vol II, Genève 1993, ill. 10