African Mask Tribal Art African Art Bambara Tribal Handmade masks for wall-9617

18.9/9.5 -CM
facemask in finely carved wood with a dark brown patina. The nose is prominent, as on most masks from the Bambaras. Legend says that this mask represented the transformation of a blacksmith ancestor who was transformed in a monkey after a prohibited sexual encounter. Original patina and traces of ritual use. Hatchet marks on the back. The mask still has 7 charms and 5 rings in brown iron on the top.Bambara, Tenglela region – Mali. The Ban-mâna, from “Ban” – refusal and “mâne” – master, in other words people that refuse to be dominated, are more well known as the Bambara, a name given to them by the Europeans. It is the dominant ethnic group in Mali.