Zoomorphic mask "bonu amwin" · Côte d'Ivoire, Baule · ID: 3031744
Sotheby Parke Bernet New York, 14 & 15 October 1977, lot 524
Lorne Balshine, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Description
wood, black partly encrusted patina, red and white paint, helmet-shaped, drilled holes around the rim, min. dam., minor missing parts, traces of abrasion;
“bonu amwin” means “god of the woods”. This mask of high authority belongs to the “do” secret society. This mask was greatly feared, it was a powerful force for averting harm and maintaining order in the community. Each village had at least one. Women were rigorously excluded from all performances and were not permitted to see the mask. Should a woman see one even by accident, it was said, she is doomed to die.
The object Zoomorphic mask “bonu amwin” with the object ID 3031744 was last part of the auction 70th tribal art auction at September 8, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 250 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,200.
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
Barbier, Jean Paul (ed.), Art of Côte d' Ivoire, Vol II, Genf 1993, p. 120 ff.