Mask "kanaga" · Mali, Dogon · ID: 3035883
Francois de Ricqlès, Paris, 6.6. 1999, lot 121
Alain Rime, Bouvignies, France
Jacques Castex, Paris, France
Jean-Paul Agogué, Paris, France
Description
light wood, polychrome paint, plant fibres, superstructure in form of a double cross with two small seated figures on top, plant fibre bonnet at the back, min. dam., rep., small missing parts, traces of abrasion, cracks, base;
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 3035883 was last part of the auction 75th tribal art auction at November 30, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 249.
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