Bamana-Bambara Chiwara sculpture, Africa, 20th century

A traditional carved wooden headdress, with engraved and embossed details. It depicts an antelope with long horns and a curved body. The angular face shows an attached lining with possible copper decorations. The Chi Wara is actually an animal composed of part antelope, part aardvark and part pangolin. Historically, these masks were worn by male-female pairs in a dance performance that praised expert farmers.

Size: 120 x 29 cm