Zoomorphic crest mask with high horns

Title: Zoomorphic crested mask with tall horns
Origin: Burkina Faso (Bobo or Bwa people) or Mali (Bamana, regional variant). West Africa, Voltaic-Mandinga region
Date: 20th century
Material: Carved wood, natural pigments (red, black, white), metal foil, beads, shells (couri). Dimensions: h. 158 x 51 x 18 cm
Function: Mask used in initiation ceremonies, harvest festivals, and collective rites. The zoomorphic figure with vertical horns evokes an antelope or buffalo, animals associated with life force, fertility, and connection with ancestral spirits. The abundance of decorative elements (foil, cowries, beads) intensifies the object’s sacred and apotropaic value.
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