Masque africain Tribu Mossi

Burkina Faso, Yatenga style Wood, pigments, plant fibers, Height: 117 cm Beautiful large Mossi vertical anthropomorphic mask. It features a concave face painted white, divided vertically by a black ridge and topped by antelope horns. The cheeks are adorned with graphic motifs that, according to Christopher Roy(...): "signal the religious imperatives that community members must respect to be worthy of receiving divine blessings". The holes on either side of the mask allow the dancer to slide in a bit to stabilize the mask while dancing. Part of the hanging device is still visible. This type of mask is linked to ancestor worship, which the Mossi share with their neighbors, the Dogon. Bibliography: Christopher Roy, Art of the Upper Volta Rivers, Alain et Françoise Chaffin, Editeurs, Paris, 1987 Christopher Roy, Mossi, Visions d'Afrique, Editions 5 Continents, Milan, 2015. Appraised in December 1971 by Maurice Ratton, rue de Grenelle, Paris. One horn broken - glued back (Accident and restoration). Expert: Mme Émilie Salmon