面具 - 木 - n'tomo - Bambara - 馬里 - 49 釐米

A superb mask presenting horns male and female on the forehead. This is a Bamama N'tomo mask.
Among the Bamana, one of the most popular dances is that of the Ntomo association. Functioning as a bush school for the young, they were performed at harvest festivals.

The present mask was used for initiation rituals. Some of its other features have also been symbolically interpreted: the small mouth indicates the value of silence or of thinking before speaking; the long nose expresses the metaphorical capacity to smell the good and bad qualities in people. The whole forehead and horns are covered with cowry shells which is typical for the Bambara Tribe and symbolizes wealth.

Provenance: Ex-private collection, Barcelona