Mask "waka kakada" · Mali, Dogon · ID: 3033032
Christie’s London, “The Late Josef Mueller Collection. Part II”, 20 March 1979, lot 22
Richard Rüegg, Zurich, Switzerland
Description
light brown wood, whitened with kaolin, black and indigoblue pigment, probably depicting a crocodile, carved with monstrous jars set with detachable narrow pointed teeth, conical black eyes, some netting and pink fibre fringe at the back, min. dam., minor missing parts (teeth), cracks, traces of abrasion;
the crocodile was feared as a man killing monster and was killed therefore. Lateron masks were made after his image, in order to banish even its spirit “nyama” from the world of the living.
The object Mask “waka kakada” with the object ID 3033032 was part of the auction 69th tribal art auction on June 2, 2012. The object with the lot number 168 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,800 with an asking price of EUR 2,500.
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
Bilot, Alain, Masques du pays Dogon, Paris 2001, p. 130, ill. 61