A Senufo Mask, "kponyugo" Mask, "kponyugo" Senufo, Côte d'Ivoire Mit Sockel / with base Wood. H 81.5 cm. Provenance: Gérald Minkoff (1937-2009) and Muriel Olesen (1948-2020), Geneva. The Senufo are an ethnic group of around 3 million people in the border triangle of Côte d'Ivoire, Mali and Burkina-Faso. Predominantly living in villages, agriculture, formerly supplemented to a greater extent by hunting, forms the economic basis of the ethnic group. They have a distinctive mask system, which is associated with various male associations, including the poro association, and are known among art collectors for their high-quality carvings. The symbolism of the cult and everyday objects is often unclear due to the patchy oral tradition and the initiators' duty of confidentiality. Nevertheless, some references to this rare type of mask can be found in the literature. The menacing appearance of this hybrid creature combines attributes of the crocodile, the hyena and the antelope, reflecting its function in the fight against ominous forces: The powerful jaws studded with pointed teeth reminiscent of a crocodile's or hyena's mouth, the dagger-like tusks resembling the canines of the warthog and the powerful antelope horns emphasize the aggressive characteristics of the masks, from whose maws wild swarms of bees or bursts of fire are said to have occasionally escaped (which is why the mask is also called "cracheur de feu" in French). Further reading: - Hahner-Herzog, Iris (1997). The second face. Munich: Prestel. - Förster, Till (1988). The art of the Senufo. Zurich: Museum Rietberg. ----------------------------------------------------- Gérald Minkoff and Muriel Olesen Muriel Minkoff-Olesen (1948- 2020) completed her training at the School of Design in Geneva. Gérald Minkoff (1937-2009) was a trained anthropologist and biologist. Both achieved fame as artists and from their meeting in 1967, the emblematic couple of contemporary art were inseparable. The travel-loving Olesen-Minkoff duo explored life like curious nomads, roaming the globe from Africa to Asia, Oceania, America and Patagonia. As artists and experienced collectors of contemporary art, they understandably had a keen sensitivity to the aesthetics and concepts of non-European art. The couple's Geneva apartment, perhaps their most beautiful joint work, thus became a place where the works of close friends such as Daniel Spoerri, Arman and Man Ray, as well as their own photographs, lived together with almost a thousand objects from Africa, Oceania, Asia and South America. CHF 4 000 / 8 000 Weight in grams: 4800 Condition: Both small horns on the forehead glued after breakage. -------------------------------- The condition (any wear, signs of use, cracks, any other damage and signs of age, etc.) of this lot can be seen in the photos we have uploaded for your documentation. If you have any questions about this item, please do not hesitate to contact Hammer Auctions ([email protected]). The information regarding the condition of the items provided for the convenience of interested parties is an opinion only and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Hammer Auctions accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions. In the rare event that the item does not match the description in the catalog, Hammer Auctions is here to help. Buyers may return the lot for a full refund provided they notify Hammer Auctions within 5 days of receiving the lot.