AN UNUSUAL BAGA DANCE HEADDRESS

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Details

AN UNUSUAL BAGA DANCE HEADDRESS
Of Janus form, the lozenge-shaped panel with the features carved in stepped layers, whitened eyes above the slender nose to each side, a lozenge at the top with a band of lozenges in relief, whitened ears to the sides, black patina
37.5cm. wide

Literature

Rubin, W. (ed.), "Primitivism" in 20th Century Art, Volume II, New York, 1984, p.472
Lamp. F., Art of the Baga, New York, 1996, p.46, fig.29

Special notice

Christie's charge a buyer's premium of 20% (VAT inclusive) for this lot.

Lot Essay

When exhibited in the Primitivism exhibition in New York in 1984 this mask was incorrectly attributed to the Ibo. Fred Lamp (in Art of the Baga, a Drama of Cultural Reinvention, 1996, p.46) states that the mask represents the Guinea fowl (Kanke) and comes from the Baga Koba village of Katema. According to Lamp the mask was documented in Guinea in 1950 and had been collected by November of that year.

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