Mask "kanaga" · Mali, Dogon · ID: 3035432
Swiss Private Collection
Description
light wood, polychrome paint, superstructure in form of a double cross with two small seated figures on top, plant fibre bonnet, min. dam., small missing parts through insect caused damage (back), traces of abrasion;
the “kanaga” mask can be interpreted in different ways: crocodile, creator genius, but also “bird in flight”. According to the latter interpretation it represents the bird “kommolo tebu” with spread wings and black and white plumage, when after its shooting the hunter carved the first “kanaga”.
The object Mask “kanaga” with the object ID 3035432 was part of the auction 74th tribal art auction on September 7, 2013. The object with the lot number 54 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,600 with an asking price of EUR 1,200.
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
Homberger, Lorenz (Hg.), Die Kunst der Dogon, Zürich 1995, p. 124