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African Nafana Bedu Large Moon Plank Zoomorphic Geometric Wood Sculpure Mask
About the Item
A wonderful, quite large and heavy, colorful Bedu plank mask by the Nafana (Senufo) tribe who reside in the central north-west of Ghana and the north-east of Côte d'Ivoire. These zoomorphic geometric-shaped masks are used in dancing ceremonies and are made in two primary forms, male and female (The male version such as this one features horns while the female mask featured a more rounded/circular form and a smoother crest/top). The masks are used in a number of festivals and rituals including the Kulango - the end of the dry season hunting festival, the Nafana new year full-moon ceremony (Dafiago), and the Zaurau festival. It is believed that the masks are used to protect the villagers from danger and encourage fertility within the community. The Bedu plank masks are generally geometric in design and quite monumental in size - among the largest masks in Africa. The masks are believed to represent the physical manifestation of a mythical domesticated buffalo-like spirit animal.
A somewhat hard-to-find work.
This colorful piece is from a rather impressive and extensive African art and artifacts private collection. We believe it dates back to the mid-to-late 1900s but could be older (Bedu masks were apparently first recorded in the 1930s).
Would make for a great addition to any African art/ artifacts collection or an eye-catching stand-alone accent piece in about any setting.
Dimensions: 63.5" high, 25.5" wide, 6" deep.
- Dimensions:Height: 63.5 in (161.29 cm)Width: 25.5 in (64.77 cm)Depth: 6 in (15.24 cm)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:Mid 1900s or Later
- Condition:In good vintage condition with some paint loss, light cracking, and natural organic wear consistent with age and use (quite acceptable with pieces of this nature. Please see photos). A strange, beautiful, and engaging work overall.
- Seller Location:Studio City, CA
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU2254330740122
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