Mask "kanaga"
Mali, Dogon
Vendu
570 €
Provenance
Eduard Hess, Basel, SwitzerlandTaille
H: 49,5 cm
H: 19.5 inch
Description
light brown wood, matt patina, of narrow form with a highly abstract face, showing a sharp edged protruding forehead and nose, superstructure in form of a double cross missing, min. dam., cracks, traces of abrasion;
the “kanaga” mask can be interpreted in different ways: crocodile, creator genius, but also “bird in flight”. According to the latter interpretation it represents the bird “kommolo tebu” with spread wings and black and white plumage, when after its shooting the hunter carved the first “kanaga”.