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Lot Essay
Since their first discovery in 1882 when Captain Archinard gave a cywara to the Musée d'Ethnographie du Trocadéro, these headdresses were appreciated and studied. They found their place in almost all the major exhibition and quickly became one of the African art icons.
In 1970, Pascal Imperato published an article defining two types of cywara originating from different parts of the Bamana country: the horizontal ones (Westside of the territory: Yanfolia, Bougouni, Bamako, etc) and the vertical ones (Eastside: Sikasso, San, Ségou, etc). Later, Zahan published an important study (1980) and identified the represented animals.
The Beyeler cywara originates from the eastern part of Bamana territory, the Ségou region. It refers to a male Hippotragus antelope. The mane of the animal is represented by an openworked geometric structure. This fine example combines an exquisite elegance and a deep darkened patina testifying to its great age.
Cf. Colleyn, 2001, fig.189 for a closely related cywara (Museum Rietberg, Zurich, (inv.RAF 202/203).
In 1970, Pascal Imperato published an article defining two types of cywara originating from different parts of the Bamana country: the horizontal ones (Westside of the territory: Yanfolia, Bougouni, Bamako, etc) and the vertical ones (Eastside: Sikasso, San, Ségou, etc). Later, Zahan published an important study (1980) and identified the represented animals.
The Beyeler cywara originates from the eastern part of Bamana territory, the Ségou region. It refers to a male Hippotragus antelope. The mane of the animal is represented by an openworked geometric structure. This fine example combines an exquisite elegance and a deep darkened patina testifying to its great age.
Cf. Colleyn, 2001, fig.189 for a closely related cywara (Museum Rietberg, Zurich, (inv.RAF 202/203).