This mask was carved in the style of the Nunuma (Nuna) people of Burkina Faso. The Nunuma people are a subgroup of the Gurunsi people. The mask comes attached to a custom base for easy display. It measures 9 inches tall, 15.5 inches on stand. There is some cracking, scuffing and general wear and tear – please inspect photos.
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Nunuma Mask on Custom Stand 15.5″ – Burkina Faso – African Art
$87.50
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| Type of Object | Mask |
|---|---|
| Country of Origin | Burkina Faso |
| Ethnicity | Gurunsi, Nunuma (Nuna) |
| Material | Wood, Pigment |
| Approximate Age | Unknown |
| Height | 9" mask | 15.5" on stand |
| Width | 6" |
| Depth | 4.5" mask | 5" base |
| Weight | 1.5 lbs mask | 3.5 lbs including stand |
| Overall Condition | Some cracking, scuffing and general wear and tear throughout. |
| Tribe Information |
Tribe Information
About the Gurunsi People
“A number of tribes who speak dialects of the Gur language have been grouped together under the name Gurunsi. They number 200,000 and spend the dry season hunting and fishing. Gurunsi masks represent bush spirits and are characterized by eyes set within concentric circles. They are worn by dancers during funerals, initiation ceremonies, fertility rites and market-day festivities.
Gurunsi figures are less well known in the West, but have a role in divination rituals.
Gurunsi people wear ivory and bronze bracelets and like other tribes in the region, carve wooden flutes.”
Source:
Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print.