Mask Applied By Sikire Kambire 1896-1963 - Burkina Faso N°2

Hardwood - split upper part - crack right eye - micro wear. Delicate and powerful work in micro surface facets. Modern base. This artist is one of the rare African sculptors active at the beginning of the 20th century whose career is documented. Sikire had the title "Thiteldhaar" (Master sculptor, custodian of the sculptural religious tradition). After several years of apprenticeship, the quality of his work attracted the attention of colonial patrons, he was spotted by Henri Labouret (administrator of the Gaoua region 1914-24). He commissioned Sikire to produce masks. Labouret called them "relief masks". He thus produced a number of seats, masks, fetishes, intended for worship and for European collectors and ethnographers. Our mask corresponds to the Labouret period 1914-24. According to the classification of Dr. Thomas Keller, author and specialist of the artist: (Sikire Kambire, monograph 2015 - Keller art premiers Lully Suisse verlag) page 22. (see scan at the end of the slideshow). In the reference work of 1931 (Les tribus du rameau Lobi) by H.Labouret, similar model reproduced. The headdresses are inspired by Dioula women. The mask is made of shea wood. Minor wear. His activity with white sponsors often attracted the wrath of his colleagues, and at his death, he did not have a handover ceremony with a disciple.