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African & Tribal Art :
Archive : Marka Ceremonial Mask
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Marka Ceremonial Mask - PF.3051
Origin: Mali/Burkina Faso
Circa: 20
th
Century AD
Dimensions:
13.5" (34.3cm) high
x 6.25" (15.9cm) wide
Collection: African
Medium: Wood and Brass
Additional Information: SOLD
$4,000.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
Ancient African cultures were highly religious,
with their religious ceremonies and practice well
incorporated into their daily lives. Everything in
life was interconnected with religious ideology
and views and art served the function of carrying
out their beliefs and rituals. In the Marka
(sometimes spelled Warka) tribe, the ornate
masks played an important role in ritual
ceremonies, not to mention the artists who
created the exquisite masks who held significant
role in the community. This Marka ceremonial
mask, thus, is not only remarkable in its
aesthetic sense but also in the functional
significance. The detail and effort invested in this
beautiful mask undoubtedly show how crucial
the rituals were to ancient Africans. The beauty
of this Marka mask lies in the elongated form of
the face and the intricate details of
enhancement. The mask was first carved in hard
wood and then covered with repousse brass
plating. The oval shaped face is defined with
intricate dot motif pattern. The eyebrows are
formed with elegant arching lines of indented dot
patterns on the brass, and cheeks are also
enhanced with vertical lines that enforce the
elongation of the oval facial shape. The dividing
lines of dots in the middle of forehead create a
perfect sense of symmetry within the face.
Furthermore, the two ornamental pieces on
either side of the face and the long, horn-like
forms arranged on the head add elegant shape
and volume to the mask. One can only imagine
how powerful and magical the African rituals
were like, performed with such a beautiful art
object.
- (PF.3051)
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