Zoomorphic mask "ntomo" · Mali, Bamana · ID: 3043531

Name: Zoomorphic mask "ntomo"
SKU: 3043531
Availability: Discontinued

not available anymore

Provenance

German Private Collection

Size

H: 51,5 cm

H: 20.3 inch

Description

wood, sacrificial traces, base

The “ntomo” is an initiation society for children. The “ntomo” starts with the beginning of the harvest season in november. In the subsequent dry season the novices visit the surrounding villages begging for alms and food. This is where the mask of “ntomo” frequently appears. The unobstrusive mouth part of the mask emphasizes the central message of the “ntomo”, namely the value of silence and the art of speaking deliberately.

The object Zoomorphic mask “ntomo” with the object ID 3043531 was last part of the auction 89th Tribal Art Auction at July 7, 2018 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 160.

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.

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