Antelope Mask with Serrated Snout
Dublin Core
Title
Antelope Mask with Serrated Snout
Culture
Malinke Culture
Description
The two Stoneman Collection Malinke masks illustrate that their Malinke carvers were willing to borrow extensively from other cultures to create these sculptural representations.
These two helmet crests employ one of the most standard mask structures used northwestern Africa: A central, oval helmet sits atop the masquerader’s head, while a rectangular, widening snout projects from the front of the mask and a pair of horns projects from the back of the mask, and raffia hangs from the bottom of the helmet mask to conceal the head and body of the dancer. This design is used by the Senufo, the Landuman, the Baga, and the Guru cultures, whose ideas have disseminated throughout this region.
The antelope motif, meanwhile, was likely borrowed from the masks of the nearby Bamana culture. Malinke and Bamana art shares many stylistic similarities, but the Bamana are well-known for their sculptural portrayals of Chi Wara headdresses, which are antelope-human combination supernaturals, as well as their Komo Kun headdresses, which are composite supernaturals that include antelope motifs.
Research by Catherine “Annie” Degraff, 2008, Missouri State University Student. Mentor: Dr. Billie Follensbee
These two helmet crests employ one of the most standard mask structures used northwestern Africa: A central, oval helmet sits atop the masquerader’s head, while a rectangular, widening snout projects from the front of the mask and a pair of horns projects from the back of the mask, and raffia hangs from the bottom of the helmet mask to conceal the head and body of the dancer. This design is used by the Senufo, the Landuman, the Baga, and the Guru cultures, whose ideas have disseminated throughout this region.
The antelope motif, meanwhile, was likely borrowed from the masks of the nearby Bamana culture. Malinke and Bamana art shares many stylistic similarities, but the Bamana are well-known for their sculptural portrayals of Chi Wara headdresses, which are antelope-human combination supernaturals, as well as their Komo Kun headdresses, which are composite supernaturals that include antelope motifs.
Research by Catherine “Annie” Degraff, 2008, Missouri State University Student. Mentor: Dr. Billie Follensbee
Century
20th
Item Dimensions
71 cm h. x 18 cm w. x 16 cm d.
Medium
Sculpture
Materials
Wood
Techniques
Carving
Provenance
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Stoneman
Acession Number
1985.81
Accession Year
1985
Photo Number
20150041