Ci Wara Dance Crest, Bambara, Mali, First Half 20th Century

Beautiful Ciwara dance crest, gracefully carved with a horse antelope, (Hippotragus equinus), with its young, The lines are stylized and dynamic, their cubist heads, decorated with a meticulous incised geometric decoration. Wood with honey and brown patina, old signs of use, a broken horn glued on. Bambara, Mali, first half of the 20th century. Dimensions: With base: 72 X 26 X 8 cm Without base: 68 X 26 * Shipping costs on quote and by dhl
carrier The crest mask, Ciwara, is one of the best-known pieces of African art. The ciwara rewards, among the Bambara, the greatest workers in all areas of active life, particularly in agriculture. It was used during the rites of the initiation society of the same name, one of the six secret institutions which govern the life of the clan. It was fixed on the heads of the initiated dancers, thanks to a basketry cap. The dances of this society are linked to agrarian rites associated with the fertility of the earth and female fertility. During these ritual ceremonies, the mask became the attribute of a costumed dancer who gave it life and speech. Through movement, and the wearer more particularly, the mask finds its meaning. The ciwaras generally danced in pairs during ceremonies in broad daylight, in the middle of fields or in villages. They celebrate the mythical and mystical union between two forces; the sun, male and fertilizing principle, the earth, feminine and procreative principle, while stimulating the enthusiasm for work of young farmers. Our example coming from the Segou region, is distinguished by the beauty and mastery of its sculpture, by its numerous marks of use, indicating an important ritual use and its age.