From an old warehoused collection, this 12 inch very early type of Bamana mask, a Sula for the Kore society, has been noted in the literature. It likely dates to the 19th century. The rim shows evidence of where a dance costume was once attached. Sotheby’s recently featured an example that did not match the quality of the offered piece However, the low estimate was still 18,000 euros, nearly $25,000 at the time of the auction. (lot 47, Dec. 2013, Paris)
|