|
Artifacts - Special
Masks |
|
|
|
|
|
Name |
BUTTERFLY MASK small |
|
Background / Origin |
BWA, BUTTERFLY MASK Mali |
|
Description |
Small Butterfly masks are owned by families and are
brought out and worn to promote fertility of the fields
during dances and celebrations (small due to lack of
storage spaces). The geometric patterns all have
meaning, separating light from dark, good from evil and
male from female. The large intriguing Bwa Butterfly
Masks (many up to three meters wide) are worn during
agricultural festivals where the dancers mimic the
motions of the beautiful butterfly Before a rainfall the
Bwa people relate how thousands and thousands of
butterflies appear over their land, bringing rain to the
newly planted crops. This dance is believed to do the
same. The Bwa hope as they dance that their gods will
look with favour on what they are doing and cause the
rain to fall, crops will grow and all the villagers will
have food to eat. |
|
Reference Number |
76/611 |
|
Width |
-1195mm |
|
Price |
US$ 320 |
|
|
