Bobo Reptile Style Mask 28.5″ – Burkina Faso – African Art

$275.00

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This mask was created in the style of the Bobo people of Burkina Faso. The mask features a reptile with geometric patterns throughout. It measures 28.5 inches tall and weighs 3 pounds. There is a previous repair to the tail along with some damage to the backside of the mask and back left foot. Cracking, scuffing and general wear and tear throughout. Stand not included.

Type of Object

Mask

Country of Origin

Burkina Faso

Ethnicity

Bobo

Animal

Material

Wood, Pigment

Approximate Age

Unknown

Height (Inches)

28.5"

Width (Inches)

6”

Depth (Inches)

5.75"

Weight (Pounds)

3 lbs

Overall Condition

Repair to tail, damage to back of mask and foot. Cracking and wear and tear.

Tribe Information

About the Bobo People

“The various tribes living in Burkina Faso (formerly Upper-Volta), Ghana and Togo cultivate millet and cotton, and rear cattle in the northern savannah regions. Their religious activities are dictated by the rhythm of the seasons – during the dry season in particular, when the fields are fallow, large festivals and ceremonies are organized.
The 100,000 Bobo live in eastern Burkina Faso. They are primarily farmers whose lives are regulated by a council of elders. The Bobo cast bronze pendants and carved large masks. The masks symbolize animals or spirits and are worn during ceremonies associated with new crops, initiations and funerals.”

Source:
Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print.