Bamana tribal Ci Wara headdress, Mali 1960s

About the Item

This ceremonial headdress was handmade from a single piece of wood by the skillful hands of a member of the Bamana tribe originating from Mali, West Africa. It was brought to The Netherlands by the former owner in the late 60s but was probably made in the early 1900th. It depicts an antelope with elaborate carvings and decorations. It is set on a woven rattan hat surrounded by fringes made from natural fibre. It measures an impressive 175cm in height including the fringes. Most Ci Wara headdresses that come up for sale are mounted on a wood pedestal to display but this one still has the original hat as it was intended to be worn in ceremonial dance. "Ci wara" headdresses from Mali are among the most widely known and admired of all African art forms and their characteristic elegant abstraction is valued both in Bamana society and the West. The term "ci wara" encompasses several distinct but related performative genres. Among the Bamana, the invention of agriculture and the understanding of earth, animals, and plants were at one time attributed to a mythical culture hero named Ci Wara. In the nineteenth and early twentieth century, this knowledge was shared among members of a men's agricultural association, also called "ci wara". Ceremonial dances performed by "ci wara" members celebrate the skills of successful farmers as well as the benevolence of Ci Wara's gift of agriculture to humanity. The outstanding feature of "ci wara" dances was the performance of a pair of gracefully designed, sculpted headdresses in the form of antelopes.

Dimensions:

Height: 68.9 in (175 cm)Width: 7.88 in (20 cm)Depth: 15.75 in (40 cm)

Style:

Tribal (In the Style Of)

Materials and Techniques:

Natural Fiber,Rattan,Shell,Wood,Hand-Carved,Hand-Crafted,Hand-Knotted

Place of Origin:

Mali

Period:

Early 20th Century

Date of Manufacture:

1900th

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses. The piece is still in good condition considering its age and use with scuffs and wear on the wood. The fringes may shed some of the fibers.

Seller Location:

ECHT, NL

Reference Number:

1stDibs: LU9426239511992

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