Mask, Bamana; Mali
Wood, sacrificial materials, fiber; H. 37 1 /2"
Kono masks are associated with abstract
qualities of judgment and discernment of good and
evil. Performances are accompanied by a reed pipe
whose nasal "voice" alludes to the voice
of conscience and the need for hearing. This mask
depicts a mythical beast, the elongated form deriving
from a composite creature loosely based on both
elephant and crocodile yet heavily encrusted with
sacrificial materials. The heavy encrustation and
fine patina indicate extreme age.
