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Buffalo Mask
✓ Authenticity guarantee · ✓ Specialist condition report · ✓ Insured worldwide shipping · ✓ Private-room viewing
Among the Bwa people, masks with human, animal, and fantastic traits typically represent protective bush spirits. This mask’s horns and muzzle identify it as a bush buffalo. Masked dancers appear during the dry season for initiations, funerals of elders, market days, harvest celebrations, and annual renewal rituals to protect the well-being of the community.
| Artist / Maker | Africa, West Africa, Burkina Faso, possibly Bwa-style maker |
|---|---|
| Date | early to mid-1900s |
| Culture / Origin | Africa, West Africa, Burkina Faso, possibly Bwa-style maker |
| Medium | Wood, plant fibers, paint, and iron |
| Dimensions | Overall: 69.8 cm (27 1/2 in.) |
| Department | African Art |
| Type | Mask |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
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