This is the rating and price for 20Th C. African Dogon Wood Walu Mask, 2005

Description : West Africa, Mali, Dogon, ca. first half of the 20th century CE. A gorgeous hand-carved wooden mask depicting an antelope (known as a walu in Dogon). The rectangular mask presents with vertical eye channels on the front and narrow eye holes on the verso, a petite rectangular mouth above a short chin, thin ears projecting upwards along the periphery, and an enormous pair of horns with rounded tips. A pair of perforated suspension holes on either side of the mask enables additional ornamentation to drape from the face, and traces of several drilled holes along the verso would have enabled a large costume to be attached. Walu masks like this example are used by Dogon elders in the dama, a commemorative ceremony for important elders in the community. Dozens of zoomorphic masks are paraded and danced by other members of the community as a symbolic means of protecting the honored elder from the negative effects of dark magic and death. A wondrous example from the Dogon! Size: 9.5 W x 37.25 H (24.1 cm x 94.6 cm), 47.125 H (119.7 cm) on included custom stand. A stylistically-similar example of a larger size hammered for $4,500 at Sotheby's, New York African & Oceanic Art auction (November 11, 2005, lot 41): For another example of a different style of Walu mask, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1979.541.7: Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #149217
Price: 2 490.00 USD It's free to register now to view!
Estimate (low-high) : 3250 USD-4500 USD It's free to register now to view!

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