Senufo palm mask, Ivory Coast - Lot 9

Senufo palm mask, Ivory Coast Wood, pigments 20th century Height: 37 cm Provenance : Bernd Muhlack Collection, Germany, 1987 German private collection --- Senufo mask, Ivory Coast Wood, pigments XX° century Height: 37 cm Provenance: Collection Bernd Muhlack, Germany, 1987 German private collection According to the classification proposed by Jean Jamin in his article "Le double monstrueux. Les masques-hyène des Sénoufo" (Cahiers d'Études Africaines, 1979, vol. 19, cahier 73/76, pp. 125-142), this zoomorphic mask appears to be a singular composition, combining elements of the korobla form, characterized by "simplification, relative sobriety of form and sculptural mass", and of the karmato form, by its rotundity, from which it differs, however, by its prominent jaw, which reveals a stylized tongue and teeth, features absent from karmato, usually devoid of visible teeth. The korobla, imbued with protective and beneficent energy, performs the funeral ritual by climbing onto the mortuary bed, and with a single cry leads the soul (plé) to the afterlife. The karmato is described as a mask designed to ward off occult forces. The presence of ochre and white polychrome stains all over the surface of the mask, contrasting with the black patina, suggests an indirect affiliation with the symbolism of the poro institution, for although theoretically independent, the korobla and karmato retain a link with this institution; the former is often ritually controlled by the chief of the sacred wood (sizgafolo), the latter, associated with witch-hunting, a theme also central to the poro ritual universe. Our mask appears to be a hybrid combination of different animals, with a curved face marked by a nasal bridge, a high-relief sagittal crest on the forehead and two pointed ears. It is distinguished by the unique treatment of its open-toothed jaw and the profusion and polychromy of its motifs applied throughout the composition, underlining its special character within the corpus of Senoufo zoomorphic masks. According to the classification proposed by Jean Jamin in his article "Le double monstrueux. Les masques-hyène des Sénoufo" (Cahiers d'Études Africaines, 1979, vol. 19, cahier 73/76, pp. 125-142), this zoomorphic mask seems to constitute a singular composition, blending elements of the korobla form, characterized by "simplification, relative sobriety of shapes, and sculptural mass," and the karmato form, due to its roundness, although it is distinguished by its prominent jaw, which reveals a stylized tongue and teeth-characteristics absent in karmato masks, which typically lack visible teeth. The korobla, imbued with a protective and benevolent energy, performs the funeral ritual by mounting the mortuary bed, and it is through a unique cry that it guides the soul (plé) to the afterlife. The karmato, on the other hand, is described as a mask meant to ward off occult forces. The presence of ochre and white polychrome markings on the entire surface of the mask, contrasting with the black patina, suggests an indirect affiliation with the symbolism of the poro institution. Although theoretically independent, both the korobla and the karmato retain a connection to this institution; the former is often ritually controlled by the chief of the sacred forest (sizgafolo), while the latter is associated with witch-hunting, a theme also central to the ritual universe of the poro. Our mask appears to be a hybrid combination of different animals, with a curved face marked by a nasal ridge, the forehead traversed by a sagittal crest in high relief, and framed by two pointed ears. It stands out due to the unique treatment of its jaw with an openwork dentition and the profusion and polychromy of the motifs applied across the entire composition, highlighting its distinctiveness within the corpus of Senoufo zoomorphic masks. A horizontal crack on the body of the scabbard, slight restoration to the center. A few small chips. In very good condition. A crack on the muzzle has been filled, indicating reattachment. Both ears have been reattached or have native hook restorations. The mouth is missing. Irregular staples on the ears. Large crack in the filled-in lateral ridge, with traces of glue.