Bamana Kore Mask Mali

Overall Condition: Good. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners.

Damage/Repair: Chips on nose, face, and back of piece; see photos for more details.

This hand-carved wooden mask illustrates a solemn face with portruding nose, mouth and ears.

All Bamana males advance through various levels of initiation and secret knowledge and the Kore mask appears for only the most senior of men representing their personal struggle to achieve knowledge and wisdom. The symbolism of this mask identifies it as a Kore society-mask combining human and animal features. Usually carved in secret by the by the blacksmith the mask was made from a single piece of wood.

AG1022