Helmet mask "bo nun amuin" ("bonu amuin/ amwin") · Côte d'Ivoire, Baule · ID: 3046855
Pace Gallery, New York, USA (No 53-0130)
Zemanek-Münster, 27 June 2015, Lot 263
American Private Collection
Description
wood, strongly encrusted sacrificial patina, metal, base
This mask type is called “bo nun amuin” (“gods in (or of) the bush”), or “amuin yasua” (“men’s gods”) and is considered the most sacred mask of the Baule.
Women are forbidden to look at the mask (even during performances). Those that do look risk illness, misfortune or even death.
The masks are danced to protect the village from outsider threats and at the funerals of former dancers and important men. Used also to “discipline” women, “bo nun amuin” masks threaten women into good behaviour.
Their performances are fearsome spectacles, featuring violent behavior and magical feats.
The object Helmet mask “bo nun amuin” (“bonu amuin/ amwin”) with the object ID 3046855 was last part of the auction Voyage Tribal Art - Live Online Auction at May 23, 2020 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 127.
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
Vogel, Susan Mullin, Baule, African Art - Western Eyes, New York 1997, p. 205 ff.