Koré monkey mask - Bambara - Mali
Starting bid
€ 1
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Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 170 - € 200
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Description from the seller
Mali
Dogon
Bois
Height: 320mm
Width: 180mm
Depth: 140mm
The monkey mask (Sula or Sulaw) of the Koré society occupied a radically different place from the other animal masks. Whereas the lion embodied dignity and the antelope spiritual purity, the monkey was the main actor in a true theater of mockery and social satire.
Here is how this type of masks were concretely used during rituals:
1. A performance based on transgression and mockery
During the great public festival that closed the initiation rites (every ~7 years), the dancers wearing the monkey mask did not adopt a solemn posture. On the contrary, they mimed behaviors deemed impure, grotesque or absurd:
They imitated the grimaces, nervous agitation and the crouched posture of the animal.
They engaged in parodies of the sexual act, stole food from spectators or rolled in the dust.
They directly attacked the notables and elders of the village with provocative gestures, ridiculing the authority and strict moral rules of the community.
2. A pedagogical function through the absurd
Behind this apparent anarchy and bursts of laughter lay a crucial educational function. For the Bambara, the monkey embodies indiscipline, superficial cunning and lack of self-control.
By showing the public (and especially the new initiates) these outrageous behaviors, the mask served as a counterexample. It staged the savagery and primitive impulses of man to better teach, by contrast, the virtues of restraint (fanga), silence and dignity that any accomplished person must acquire within society.
3. The costume and accessorizing
To reinforce the mocking aspect and break with the rigid sacredness of other secret societies (like the Komo or the Kono), the wearer of the monkey mask used specific attributes:
The costume was often lighter or made of old rags, coarse fibers and vines, evoking poverty or intellectual deprivation.
The dancers frequently held parodic accessories, such as wooden fake sabers or phallic sticks, to emphasize their comical facial expressions and their interactions with the crowd.
In short, the monkey mask was the community's outlet: a space of total freedom and therapeutic laughter where taboos were temporarily lifted to better reaffirm social order once the festival ended.
The packages are sent from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery in the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
We speak English
Mask African art African mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art African statue art arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane
Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateMali
Dogon
Bois
Height: 320mm
Width: 180mm
Depth: 140mm
The monkey mask (Sula or Sulaw) of the Koré society occupied a radically different place from the other animal masks. Whereas the lion embodied dignity and the antelope spiritual purity, the monkey was the main actor in a true theater of mockery and social satire.
Here is how this type of masks were concretely used during rituals:
1. A performance based on transgression and mockery
During the great public festival that closed the initiation rites (every ~7 years), the dancers wearing the monkey mask did not adopt a solemn posture. On the contrary, they mimed behaviors deemed impure, grotesque or absurd:
They imitated the grimaces, nervous agitation and the crouched posture of the animal.
They engaged in parodies of the sexual act, stole food from spectators or rolled in the dust.
They directly attacked the notables and elders of the village with provocative gestures, ridiculing the authority and strict moral rules of the community.
2. A pedagogical function through the absurd
Behind this apparent anarchy and bursts of laughter lay a crucial educational function. For the Bambara, the monkey embodies indiscipline, superficial cunning and lack of self-control.
By showing the public (and especially the new initiates) these outrageous behaviors, the mask served as a counterexample. It staged the savagery and primitive impulses of man to better teach, by contrast, the virtues of restraint (fanga), silence and dignity that any accomplished person must acquire within society.
3. The costume and accessorizing
To reinforce the mocking aspect and break with the rigid sacredness of other secret societies (like the Komo or the Kono), the wearer of the monkey mask used specific attributes:
The costume was often lighter or made of old rags, coarse fibers and vines, evoking poverty or intellectual deprivation.
The dancers frequently held parodic accessories, such as wooden fake sabers or phallic sticks, to emphasize their comical facial expressions and their interactions with the crowd.
In short, the monkey mask was the community's outlet: a space of total freedom and therapeutic laughter where taboos were temporarily lifted to better reaffirm social order once the festival ended.
The packages are sent from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking number.
Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union.
Delivery in the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
We speak English
Mask African art African mask art arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art African statue art arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane
Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Passionate about World Arts and more specifically about African Art, we buy from collectors, former officials, military, health workers, public works staff who have worked in Africa and also in Côte d'Ivoire, from antique dealers and traders who roam across West Africa to find quality objects.
It is with pride that we present works that, beyond their power to beautify spaces, invite our collectors to resonate with the richness and depth of human expression through the most authentic art.
At Arts Ethniques Gallery, we have the privilege of offering our visitors an exclusive selection of artworks, all unique and original. Each piece presented is the outcome of a demanding artistic approach, driven by a singular vision and mastered craftsmanship, all elements that guarantee authenticity and value.
The works we offer are not industrial reproductions. They are individual creations, crafted with sensitivity and precision, each bearing its own story, identity and presence. Originality is the very foundation of our commitment to excellence. Thus, every mask and every statue in our collection is the subject of a rigorous selection, in order to preserve their rarity and singularity.
Acquiring a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery means owning a truly unique piece: a creation that embodies both talent, cultural memory and the expressive force of African art. It is also a lasting investment in a work whose artistic and emotional value transcends time.
We guarantee that every work leaving our gallery is an authentic piece, without replicas, bearing witness to the creativity, heritage and passion of the African artists who shaped them.
We invite you to participate in our gallery’s auctions with confidence. Each presented work is an original, unique and irreplaceable creation, selected with the greatest rigor to guarantee its authenticity and artistic value.
Whether you wish to enrich a personal collection or introduce an exceptional artwork into your space, Arts Ethniques Gallery offers a safe, transparent and professional setting to acquire remarkable pieces.
Art auctions are a privileged moment to discover rare works, capable of becoming the heart of a collection. Acquiring a work at our sales is not just buying an object: it is investing in a creation whose aesthetic value and cultural reach reinforce over time.
The pieces presented by Arts Ethniques Gallery testify not only to the talent and vision of the artists but also possess the ability to transform spaces and enrich the gaze of those who behold them.
Participating in our auctions is taking part in a singular experience, where the passion for art meets the rigors of collecting. Bidding on a work from Arts Ethniques Gallery goes beyond a simple transaction: it is a gesture of commitment and appreciation for art in its most authentic form.
We invite you to bid with passion and to join us in this adventure dedicated to discovery, transmission and celebration of art.
Perhaps your next heart piece is already waiting for you."
Translated by Google TranslateDetails
Ethnic group/ culture
Bambara
Country of Origin
Mali
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Title of artwork
Koré monkey mask
Sold by
