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Dan masks are so very intriguing!
In the 9th Century, the Dan people migrated from western Sudan region to the north which is part of (present day) Mali. Then, because of conflict, they migrated to Cote D’Ivoire . . . and – present day –…
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- Item Number: M-7797
- Provenance/Origin: Liberia. Dan people. Circa 1960 - 1970s
- Composition: Wood. Vegetal. Paint.
- Dimensions: Mask face: 10" tall x 6" wide. Total length: 15"
- Weight: 1.75 pounds
- Price: $ 162.00 USD
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The Djimini (aka Dyimini) people of Cote d’lvoire are part of the larger Senufo group. Heavily into story telling about their history and traditions, this group believes in animism as their main religious practice. Everything, everything has a spirit inside it . . the…
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- Item Number: M-4532
- Provenance/Origin: Djimini people. Gold Coast. Circa 1960s
- Composition: Wood, vegetal fibers, fabric
- Dimensions: 10" tall x 7.5" wide x 6" deep (mask without tassels)
- Weight: 1.75 pounds
- Price: $ 225.00 USD
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Originating in the ancient state/city Corinth, full sized helmets – like this – were made of bronze and used by hoplite heavy infantry soldiers. Most everything they wore or carried was heavy.
These helmets are well known in their variety of crests and nose pieces. And,…
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- Item Number: M-9275
- Provenance/Origin: Greece. Circa 1950s. Stand is custom and new.
- Composition: Heavy brass with wood stand
- Dimensions: Mask: 9" tall x 4.5" wide x 7" deep. On stand: 11" tall
- Weight: 3.75 pounds including stand
- Price: $ 98.00 USD
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After a long history of forced migration and union with other groups, the Yaka have been an independent society since the 19th century. Living in the northern Congo, the Yaka are primarily hunters, although they also practice small scale farming. The Yaka has a tight-knit control…
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- Item Number: M-3360
- Provenance/Origin: Northern Yaka. Congo. Circa 1960 - 1970s
- Composition: Wood, pigment, raffia, vegetal fibers and cloth.
- Dimensions: Mask is 21" tall x 7" wide x 10" deep (excluding raffia). On stand: 33" tall.
- Weight: 5 pounds with stand
- Price: $ 595.00 USD
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Well known for white-faced masks (Okuyi), the ethnic group that this was acquired from (Mpongwe) has two separate uses for masks like this.
Costumed ceremonies include rites of passage and funerary events.
This mask was used for the later. The typical Okuyi performer wears a…
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- Item Number: M-3109
- Provenance/Origin: Ogooue River Region, Gabon. Circa 1970s
- Composition: Wood
- Dimensions: 14" tall x 8" wide x 4.5" deep
- Weight: 3.75 pounds
- Price: $ 165.00 USD
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Original pieces from ancient Egypt are almost impossible to acquire at a reasonable price. And there are the issues of importing, exporting, authentication and language.
With that said, here is an item that is old but not necessarily ancient.
Isis (aka Aset) – a major…
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- Item Number: M-1197
- Provenance/Origin: Luxor Egypt
- Composition: Stone with some coloring
- Dimensions: 7.5" tall x 5.5 wide x 2.5 deep
- Weight: 4 pounds
- Price: $ 180.00 USD
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The over 2 million Bamana people form the largest ethnic group in Mali and occupy the savannah in the central portion of the country. The Bamana (aka Bambara) kingdom was founded in the 17th Century and reached their height of power in the mid- to late-1700s.
The Marka…
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- Item Number: M-7539
- Provenance/Origin: Northern Mali. Circa 1940s - 1950s
- Composition: Wood
- Dimensions: 24.5" tall x 8 " wide x 7" deep
- Weight: 4.25 pounds
- Price: $ 190.00 USD
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The mythical deity – Garuda – has a ton of spiritual significance in Hinduism and Buddhism. In Hinduism, Garuda is most often found mounted on the back of Vishnu, as the god’s protector.
Here the Garuda – with a snake in its beak – symbolizes the…
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- Item Number: M-5924
- Provenance/Origin: Hindu and Buddhist figure. Handcrafted in Nepal. Recent.
- Composition: Bronze
- Dimensions: 14" wide x 9" tall
- Weight: 1.5 pounds
- Price: $ 295.00 USD
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I have run across a few of these “yawn” masks over the last few years and have not been impressed. But this one is different.
This is an artisan’s stunning interpretation of what is supposed to be a satisfying gesture. But with the wrinkled forehead, flared…
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- Item Number: M-8506
- Provenance/Origin: Bali. Circa 1960s.
- Composition: Hibiscus and horse hair
- Dimensions: 10.5 tall x 6" wide x 3.5" deep... none including the flowing hair
- Weight: 1 pound
- Price: $ 58.00 USD
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Rangda – a dramatic manifestation of the Goddess of the Underworld, Durga – is the demon queen of the Leyaks. Leyaks are spirit/ghost-like figures in Bali that appear as humans during the daylight but – at night – their head and entrails break off from their bodies…
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- Item Number: M-9901
- Provenance/Origin: Bali. Circa 1950s
- Composition: Hair, Wood, Cloth, Paint, Metalwork, Mirrors
- Dimensions: 48" long
- Weight: 3 pounds
- Price: $ 275.00 USD
