Rams head for puppet theatre "sogo bò"
Mali, Bozo
sold
EUR 4,000
Provenance
Stefan Herzog, Munich, GermanySize
H: 49 cm
H: 19.3 inch
Description
wood, brown patina, remains of pigments, nearly the whole head stretched with red fabric and stud with punched metal sheet, circular drilled eyes, framed by strong grooved horns, rep. (breakages both horns), traces of insect caused damage and corrosion, small missing part (left horntip), base.
The Bozo live in the same area as the Bamana but are not related to them linguistically. Certain cultural institutions, including youth organizations sponsor puppet theater, however, are shared.
The puppet theatre “sogo bò” is subject to the patronage of “kamalen ton”, a society of boys coming from one village community. The theatre consists of a sequence of singular scenes, interrupted by short performances of singing and dancing.
Comparing literature
Rubin, William (Hg.), Primitivismus in der Kunst des zwanzigsten Jahrhunderts, München 1984, p. 344, ill. 472 Musée de l'Homme (ed.), Arts primitifs dans les ateliers d'artistes, Paris 1967, ill. 73 Robbins, Warren M. & Nancy Ingram Nooter, African Art in American Collections, o.O. 1989, p. 86, ill. 91Publications
AHDRC: 0147193