Collections: Arts of Africa and the Pacific Islands: Mask (Karan-wemba)

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Mask (Karan-wemba)

This mask shows the basic form of a Mossi face mask: a smooth oval divided by a median ridge, without ears or mouth, pierced with two eyeholes. The female figure standing atop the mask has a lock of hair at the back of her head and abdominal and chest scars, marking her as a married woman who has given birth to her first child. Such masks are danced at burials and celebrations to honor the spirits of deceased clan elders. The masks protect and aid members of the clan and foster the harvest of wild fruits.

• Culture: Mossi
• Medium: Wood
• Place Made: Nord Region, Burkina Faso
• Dates: 19th century
• Dimensions: 31 x 8 1/2 x 6 3/4 in. (78.7 x 21.6 x 17.1 cm)
• Collections: Arts of Africa and the Pacific Islands
• Museum Location: This item is on view in African Galleries, 1st Floor
• Accession Number: 2005.13
• Credit Line: Gift of Beatrice Riese
• Image: Overall, 2005.13_SL1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph
Mossi. Mask (Karan-wemba), 19th century. Wood, 31 x 8 1/2 x 6 3/4 in. (78.7 x 21.6 x 17.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Beatrice Riese, 2005.13 (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 2005.13_SL1.jpg)
• Catalogue Description: Oval, minimally decorated face mask on top of which is 21" tall standing female figure. Figure is nude, frontally posed, with arms at sides and knees slightly bent. Figure's oval face clearly delineated, with protruding eyes, straight nose, and slightly open mouth revealing two (metal?) teeth. Ears squarish with one hole in each lobe. Coiffure consists of a single ridge with shallow striations from brow, over top of head, continuing down to shoulder level. Scarification marks on cheeks and back of head. Long columnar neck with three shallow striations encircling middle. Broad shoulders and large breasts. Extensive linear scarification marks consisting of triangular and checkerboard patterns incised on back, upper arms, and buttocks. More lightly incised scarification marks above breasts and on belly. Naval protrudes slightly. Buttocks sharply delineated, moving into upper legs at a sharp angle. Thick, smooth curved legs. Hands and feet minimally carved with incised lines definiing fingers and toes. Mask below figure is oval in shape with square eye holes. Eye area set back approximately 1" from surface. Vertical ridge moves down center of eye area. Eye area rimmed with oval-shaped ridge. Twenty-four small holes evenly spaced around edge of mask. Interior unornamented. Condition good.