Mask - Markha - Burkina Faso

The Markha masks, produced by the Muslim group of Mali and Burkina Faso that has adopted the customs of their Bamana neighbors, are highly crafted ritual masks. They display a pronounced nasal bridge — the nose being, among the Bamana, the symbol of sociability — and a central crest topped with two lateral plaits, decorated with fine geometric patterns. Some models combine animal elements (antelope), human elements, and even metal leafs, reminiscent of the Bamana Ci‑Wara crests. Used during initiation ceremonies, fishing, farming, or circumcision, these masks embody the mythology of the game animal that teaches the cultivation of the land and serve as a vehicle for transmitting communal values.

Overview of our house of expertise

Based in Belgium, our house of expertise and sales specializes in African and ethnographic art. As a reference seller on Catawiki for more than 8 years, we enjoy a solid reputation and a history of several hundred sales with an almost 100% satisfaction rate.

We regularly assist with liquidations, successions, and dispersals of collections, in collaboration with private individuals and families in Belgium and neighboring countries. Our approach is rigorous, transparent, and accessible, with many sales offered without reserve prices.

Some pieces that have passed through our hands have joined international private collections and, for some, museum institutions.

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