Miniature mask "bo nun amuin" ·  Côte d'Ivoire, Baule · ID: 3044673

Description

wood, base

This mask type is called “bo nun amuin” (“gods in (or of) the bush”), or “amuin yasua” (“men’s gods”) and is considered the most sacred mask of the Baule.

Women are forbidden to look at the mask (even during performances). Those that do look risk illness, misfortune or even death.

The masks are danced to protect the village from outsider threats and at the funerals of former dancers and important men. Used also to “discipline” women, “bo nun amuin” masks threaten women into good behaviour.

Their performances are fearsome spectacles, featuring violent behavior and magical feats.

The object Miniature mask “bo nun amuin” with the object ID 3044673 was last part of the auction 90.I Tribal Art and 90.II Contemporary Native American Art at November 17, 2018 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 129 achieved a sales price of EUR 650.

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.

Publications

AHDRC: 0070634