Lot: 38

98th Auction

Face mask "karan wemba"

Burkina Faso, Mossi

Provenance Size Starting price / estimated price
Hermann Sommerhage, Duisburg, Germany
Werner Zintl, Worms, Germany (2007)
H: 42.5 inch sold

wood, the objects surface structure heavily marked by insect caused damage, indigenous repair, rest., base

Masks "karan wemba" were danced at the funeral of women who were particularly revered by the community because of their long, exemplary lives and wisdom.

The performance of the mask should not only honour the descendent, but also the female progenitor and founder of the clan, who is embodied by the female figure on top of the mask.


Roy, Christopher D., Land of the flying masks, München 2007, cat. 122