Mask "kanaga" · Mali, Dogon · ID: 3036786
Ingrid Richter, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
Description
light wood, matt patina, polychrome paint, superstructure in form of a double cross, plant fibre bonnet at the back, rep. (broken superstructure affixed by stripes of animal hide, cross-pieces affixed by bolts), small missing parts, cracks, traces of insect caused damage, water spots;
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 3036786 was last part of the auction 77th tribal art auction at June 28, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 150 achieved a sales price of EUR 600.
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Comparing literature
Homberger, Lorenz (Hg.), Die Kunst der Dogon, Zürich 1995, p. 124