Lot 139: A Bamana helmet mask, Kono

Bamana, Mali; L. 37 1/2"

The heavily encrusted surface, displaying obvious age. The simple form powerfully bold and abstract.

Comments:
Kono masks are associated with abstract qualities of judgment and discernment of good and evil. Its mask depicts a mythical beast, a composite creature loosely based on both elephant and crocodile yet heavily encrusted with sacrificial materials.

Provenance:
- Morton Lipkin, AZ
- Zollman Collection, IND
- Gelbard collection, NY

Publication History:
Remnants of Ritual: Selections from the Gelbard collection of African Art (2003) Bourgeois & Rodolitz; Pg. 2, Fig. 4

Exhibition History:
Exhibition History: USA: "Remnants of Ritual, Selections from the Gelbard Collection of African Art":
- University Park, IL: Governors State University, February 2003
- Krannert, IL: Krannert Art Museum, 26 August-26 October, 2003
- Kansas City, MO: Belger Art Foundation/UNIVERSITY of Missouri-
Kansas City, 2004
- Park Forest, IL: Tall Grass Art Association, 2005

Unsold

Share or Email This Lot

View all African Lots in this Auction

View all Lots in the Fine African, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian Art Auction