Mask "waka kakada"
Mali, Dogon
sold
EUR 2,800
Provenance
Josef Mueller, Solothurn, SwitzerlandChristie’s London, “The Late Josef Mueller Collection. Part II”, 20 March 1979, lot 22
Richard Rüegg, Zurich, Switzerland
Size
L: 51 cm
L: 20.1 inch
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.