Zoomorphic mask "bonu amwin" · Côte d'Ivoire, Baule · ID: 3032413
Description
heavy wood, brown patina, pigment remains, crude carved, pierced around the rim, min. dam., minor missing parts (horn tips), fissures, on metal base;
“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, that she is doomed to die.
The object Zoomorphic mask “bonu amwin” with the object ID 3032413 was last part of the auction 68th tribal art auction at March 3, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 321.
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Comparing literature
Boyer, Alain-Michel, Baule, Mailand 2008, pl. 3