Ref.77 - Bidjogo mask African Art

Product Code: Ref.77- Country: Guinea Bissau

Material: Wood (HxWxD): 45cm x 27cm x 20cm

Estimate

5,900 — 6,600 USD
 
Type: Mask material: wood
Period: 20th century authenticity: Original
Origin: Africa
 
Product 47.00 CM width
Height 57.50 CM
Product description

 

Mask Bidjogo of Guinea Bissau. Play over 30 years.

 

The DUNG'BE represents domestic beef... the release of masks is related to different events: the return of the work in the fields, foreign visits, commemorations... Bovidae masks also released on the occasion of male initiation rites. The heaviest masks are worn by the younger being initiation. This would represent the idea of the young man in full possession of his physical strength but "immature" because had not yet received all teachings during initiation.

 

The Bidjogo live in the Bijagos archipelago, off the coast of Guinea-Bissau. In a realistic style, they manufacture various types of Zoomorphic masks, each returning to a specific age class, which indicated social status. The masks are worn by boys and young men during the ceremonies that precede or complete the different phases of initiation. Apart from these ritual occasions, masks are also exhibited today in secular festivities, during the commemoration of a historic event or during the visit of important personalities, for example. The most popular masks represent an ox head. In creole, they are also called vaca bruto. The form and characteristics of the head allows to distinguish four types of masks: the gn'opara, worn by boys in the first or second age, represents a long-horned cow, born in the Bush. The dugn'be, the mask in the third age, going to be the representation of an ox domesticated, where the nostrils pierced. It is in this category that relates the present helmet mask. The stocky head is equipped with two real beef horns, two entrenched glass eyes and two nostrils where a string was threaded. It was established that the triangular white marking that appears on the top of the head is a sacred symbol very widespread in Africa and the West in ancient Mediterranean civilizations. A third type of mask, the mask essenie or essie, is found mainly on the islands of Formosa and Uno, is characterized by a huge head and the presence of big bulges of fat at the level of the neck, but also sometimes by a mouth open from which hangs a red tongue. It is a wild Bull which will have to be domesticated during initiation. Like the iare fully wooden and extremely rare mask, which represents a zebu or a Buffalo, the essenie mask is worn by young people who are preparing to enter the last phase of initiation.

 

African art, African mask
Piece delivered with an invoice and a certificate of authenticity.