This is the rating and price for 20Th C. Bamana Wood & Cloth Marionette Puppet Head

Description : West Africa, Mali, Bamana people, ca. mid-20th century CE. A fine marionette puppet head known as a Bala kono kun (literally Head of the River Bird) used for ceremonial teachings and festivals. The head has a lengthy top beak and an articulated jaw with a small handle hidden by a swath of orange, white, and black cloth with floral motifs. The bird head is topped with a multi-tiered finial boasting a pair of small loops, and the composition is painted with thick layers of yellow, black, white, and red pigment. Size: 28.5 L x 36 H (72.4 cm x 91.4 cm), 38 H (96.5 cm) on included custom stand. Sogo Bo is a major festival that takes place twice a year in Mali where the participants, dressed in garments made from vibrant African fabrics, don zoomorphic and human-shaped puppet masks and process through the streets in celebration - with an additional important purpose of reenacting myths and legends concerning the cosmos and their ancestors as well as new aspects of the contemporary world. See The Colorful Sogo Bo Puppets of Mali by Mary Sue Rosen and Paul Peter Rosen (Atglen, Pennsylvania, Schiffer Publishing Ltd. 2012) for similar examples. Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection, ex-Paul and Sue Rosen 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. #141392
Price: 342.38 USD It's free to register now to view!
Estimate (low-high) : 600 USD-900 USD It's free to register now to view!

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