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Today Open today 11–8

Female Face Mask

A work made of wood, copper, and indigo.

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  • A work made of wood, copper, and indigo.

Date:

Late 19th/early 20th century

Artist:

Bamana, Marka, or Sorogo
Eastern Segou region, Mali
Northern Africa and the Sahel

About this artwork

Variously attributed to the culturally related Bamana, Marka, or Sorogo peoples, this small mask with its striking indigo-blue color and decorative copper strips shows signs of intense usage. It depicts a beautiful and alluring Fulani maiden named Meren, a popular character in entertainment performances sponsored by youth associations among the Bamana and their related neighbors. The Fulani are a large group of Islamic nomadic merchants and pastoralists that ranges widely over West Africa.

Status

Currently Off View

Department

Arts of Africa

Culture

Bamana

Title

Female Face Mask

Place

Mali (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1875–1925

Medium

Wood, copper, and indigo

Dimensions

H.: 28.6 cm (11 1/4 in.)

Credit Line

Gift of Richard Faletti, the Faletti Family Collection

Reference Number

2006.107

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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