"Sun Mask"

 Don't wait. There's only 1 of these available.
Medium: One of a Kind Hand Carved Wood
Dimensions:
Height: 3.2 feet/38 inches, 97 centimeters
Length: 3 feet/36 inches, 91 centimeters
Region: Burkina Faso, West Africa
Tribe: Bwa Tribe
Approximate Age: 59 years (1963)
Item Number: M008
Collection: Tribal Masks
Tear Sheet: Available Upon Request
Provenance Report: "Sun Mask"
Condition: Excellent; Not previously owned; Undamaged
Sourcing: Fair Trade
 Certificate of Authenticity Provided

York's Shona Gallery presents the "Sun Mask." The Sun Mask was hand carved in 1963 in Burkina Faso in West Africa by the Bwa peoples. It is a unique, large plank mask made from one piece of wood. It depicts a face with an arrow motif as a nose circular concentric eyes, and an open, round mouth. The Sun Mask is danced around by the Bwa peoples during agricultural ceremonies to bless seasonal crops. 

The Bwa Tribe occupy large areas of Mali and Burkina Faso, extending from the banks of the Bani River in Mali in the north almost to Diebougou and the Ghana/Burkina border in the south. The Bwa have produced different types of wooden masks that portray human and animals characters with dramatic abstracted features and brightly colored geometric designs worked onto the surface of their masks.

Some other masks have abstract forms difficult to associate to any animal or human character. The Bwa religion is based upon magical objects and figures that are kept in village and family shrines. The spirit that inhabits the shrine also is found in masks that represent a spirit of the bush known as ‘Su’ that appears in different animal forms. These masks appear on a number of occasions including the initiation of young boys when they are informed about the different masks, their meanings, and how the various masks symbolize early myths and local history during annual celebrations when the masks are danced.

This lightweight mask can be easily mounted to the wall.

Masks from Africa
Masks were probably the first objects of African Art to capture the interest of art lovers of the New World. Like sculptures, masks served distinct functions. They were used for initiation, fertility rites, ancestor and spiritual worship, and other ceremonies.

The multitude of styles the masks produced revealed great artistic stories. African masks have been collected since artists like Pablo Picasso started his famous collection. He has stated that African masks inspired much of his work.

Shipping

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