Zoomorphic mask ·  Burkina Faso, Nunuma · ID: 3040059

Description

wood, polychrome paint, with birds beak, crest and forehead projection, plant fibre bonnet, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion;
the Nunuma belong to the group of the Gurunsi. Their masks appear at funeral ceremonies and above all on yearly festivities held in order to clean the village. They take place before the rainy season, at the beginning of April. They introduce the new agricultural period, as well as a new ritual cycle.

The object Zoomorphic mask with the object ID 3040059 was last part of the auction 82nd Tribal Art Auction at February 27, 2016 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 291 achieved a sales price of EUR 780.

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

Roy, Christopher D., Land of the flying masks, München 2007, ill. 73