Antelope dance crest "tjiwara" ·  Mali, Bamana · ID: 3035646

Description

wood, dark brown patina, vertical (male) type, the elegant swing of the neck repeated by the mane which is arranged in four bows, min. dam., fine cracks, small missing parts, slight traces of abrasion;
the religious and social life of the Bamana people was determined by six initiation communities. Each level of initiation was represented by a special mask type. The “tijwara” headdress belongs to the fifth level. Its members had to encourage a good harvest by celebrating their masquerades.The masks used to appear in pairs male-female, symbolizing the sun and the earth and their meaning for human life.