Bolo Mask (Primary Title)
Unknown (Artist)
A rooster’s comb, beak, and wattle are subtly merged with human features in this superb bolo mask that fits over the head of the dancer like a helmet. Bolo mask performances are noted for their energetic spinning and leaping, a sense of which is captured in the dramatic arc of the crest, which curves out into the open space above the head. The holes around the edges are for attaching strands of fiber to conceal the person wearing it and to add to the drama as the fibers fly about during the dance.
From the Robert and Nancy Nooter Collection, Adolph D. and Wilkins C. Williams Fund
“Animals in African Art: From the Familiar to the Marvelous.” New York: The Museum for African Art. 1995.
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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