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THB20th C. African Bamana Wood Suruku Initiation Mask
Lot 65a
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$1,800 - $2,500
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| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
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| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Oct 3, 2019
Set Reminder
2019-10-03 10:00:00
2019-10-03 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Exceptional Day 2: Pre-Columbian & Tribal Art
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/exceptional-day-2-pre-columbian-tribal-art-4453
Day 2 of an important 2-day auction featuring exceptional, museum-worthy examples of Pre-Columbian from the ancient Americas, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial and fossils. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Day 2 of an important 2-day auction featuring exceptional, museum-worthy examples of Pre-Columbian from the ancient Americas, Native American, African / Tribal, Oceanic, Spanish Colonial and fossils. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (300)
- Lot Description
West Africa, Mali, Bamana peoples, ca. first half of the 20th century CE. A fabulous example of a hand-carved initiation face mask in the form of an abstract hyena known as a "suruku" ("hyena"). The narrow head presents with a prominent aquiline nose, openwork eye holes, protruding jaws separated with a small dowel, a bulging forehead with a central vertical groove, tall ears, and a pair of horn-like projections. Incised striations create enclosed lattice-pattern motifs across the jowls and brow, and the verso is carved out for wear. Dark-brown pigment adorns the exterior of the mask. Size: 7.625" W x 19.75" H (19.4 cm x 50.2 cm); 24.8" H (63 cm) on included custom stand.
According to the National Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian Institute, "To become an adult in Bamana society, males must be initiated into the Kore society. Initiation involves symbolic death and rebirth, a test of courage and the chance to acquire adult knowledge. Initiates are divided into groups, identified as hyenas, lions, and monkeys. Each group is distinguished by a carved wooden mask that focuses and holds spiritual energy and receives sacrifices. Initiates wear the mask in performances at the end of initiation." (https://africa.si.edu/collections/view/objects/asitem/Objects@103/26/title-desc?t:state:flow=6e19c4e0-618b-4d38-b26e-d00420e7950d)
For a stylistically-similar example with shorter jaws, please see the National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institute, object number 68.13.7: https://africa.si.edu/collections/view/objects/asitem/Objects@103/26/title-desc?t:state:flow=6e19c4e0-618b-4d38-b26e-d00420e7950d
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Fernandez Leventhal Gallery, New York, USA and Paris, France
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
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#147723Minor abrasions and nicks to jaws, nose, forehead, ears, and horns, with light softening to some incised motifs, and wear to some raised areas, otherwise intact and very good. Light earthen deposits and nice traces of original pigmentation throughout. Old inventory labels within verso.Condition
- Shipping Info
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