Mossi crest mask, Burkina Faso This heavy mask,... Lot 44

Mossi crest mask, Burkina Faso This heavy mask, decorated with two-tone triangular motifs, features a circular element hollowed out in the center. The front of the piece, a curved volume split by a median ridge, could evoke a bird's beak. The contours are bordered by holes to which the thick hemp garment accompanying the mask was tied. 48 x 26 cm African art sculptures by the Bobo, Bwa, Kurumba and Mossi peoples of Burkina Faso frequently combine stylized elements borrowed from humans, animals and insects. The spirits of nature are said to determine an individual's well-being and prosperity, while adversity is seen as the result of neglect of collective rites. It is therefore during various celebrations that the mask will personify a nature spirit or that of an ancestor, in order to influence the daily lives of ethnic members. They appear to honor the deceased during funeral rites, and to escort souls to the realm of the dead. They also appear at agricultural festivals to ensure the progress of the seasons, and at initiation rites to initiate young people into the responsibilities of adult life. Masks are the object of family pride, and thus a means of enhancing prosperity and influence within the group. In a spirit of competition, everyone sought to showcase the dancing performance of their mask, and to highlight the ornamental motifs on its surface. Paintings were renewed for each new dance season. This heavy mask, with its two-tone triangular motifs, features a circular element hollowed out at its center. The front of the piece, a curved volume split by a median ridge, could evoke a bird's beak. The contours are bordered by holes to which the thick hemp garment accompanying the mask was tied. 48 x 26 cm