Hyena mask - Dogon - Mali
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Selected by Dimitri André
Holds a postgraduate degree in African studies and 15 years experience in African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
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Dogon hyena mask carved in wood from Mali, an original object attributed to the Dogon culture, with dimensions 420 mm high, 210 mm wide and 170 mm deep and mounted on a stand to a total height of 980 mm.
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Description from the seller
Mali
Dogon
Wood
Height: 420 mm
Width: 210 mm
Depth: 170 mm
Height on base: 980 mm
This zoomorphic mask comes from the Dogon people. The Dogon form a major cultural and spiritual group primarily established along the Bandiagara cliffs in central Mali (West Africa).
Dogon art is characterized by cubist, angular, and highly geometric forms that profoundly fascinated Western artists in the early 20th century.
1. Stylistic Characteristics and Aesthetics
This mask embodies in a very pared-down way the features of a wild animal, here the hyena (Gonu):
• The geometry of the facial block: The lower part of the mask forms an oblong, angular, and straight snout, extending downward without realistic embellishment. The eyes are depicted by broad triangular openings on either side of a central nasal ridge shaped like a arrow.
• The upper cap and texture: The upper part envelops the dancer’s head in the form of a rounded, smooth helmet. The transition between this domed forehead and the eye area is marked by a wide relief band etched with horizontal lines and chevron motifs, evoking the texture of fur or traditional scarifications.
• The ears: Small short, rounded ears are carved in relief on the sides of the helmet, echoing the spotted hyena’s morphology.
• The back and structure: At the rear, the piece is completely hollowed out in a crude manner to fit the wearer’s head. The eye cutouts pass entirely through the wood, giving the dancer a wide field of vision. Subtle perforations around the edges would have been used to attach a costume of dyed raffia fibers.
• The patina: The wood bears a matte, dry, earthy patina typical of objects kept in caves or cliff sanctuaries.
2. Use and Ritual Function: The Awa Society
Among the Dogon, animal masks belong to the male secret society of the Awa, which governs religious order and masked rituals:
• The Dama ceremonies: This mask primarily appears during the Dama. This major collective mourning ritual, sometimes held several years after the death of notable figures, aims to drive wandering souls of the dead (nyama) out of the village and to accompany them to the ancestors’ realm to restore order in the world.
• The symbolism of the hyena (Gonu): In Dogon cosmogony, each animal represented by a mask plays a precise role in the grand narrative of creation and social organization. The hyena is seen as a solitary, nocturnal animal, intelligent but often associated with cunning, gluttony, and the wild forces of the untamed bush.
• The portrayal of the bush: During dances on the village square or on the rooftops of houses, the bearers of the hyena mask perform a nervous, jerky choreography, mimicking the animal’s behavior to remind the living of the necessary balance between the village’s civilized world and the wild natural world.
The objects are shipped with insurance and a tracking number.
Delivery in France via Chronopost between 1 and 3 days and between 2 and 5 days across Europe. Delivery outside the EU and worldwide via Colissimo International.
We speak english
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
Wood
Height: 420 mm
Width: 210 mm
Depth: 170 mm
Height on base: 980 mm
This zoomorphic mask comes from the Dogon people. The Dogon form a major cultural and spiritual group primarily established along the Bandiagara cliffs in central Mali (West Africa).
Dogon art is characterized by cubist, angular, and highly geometric forms that profoundly fascinated Western artists in the early 20th century.
1. Stylistic Characteristics and Aesthetics
This mask embodies in a very pared-down way the features of a wild animal, here the hyena (Gonu):
• The geometry of the facial block: The lower part of the mask forms an oblong, angular, and straight snout, extending downward without realistic embellishment. The eyes are depicted by broad triangular openings on either side of a central nasal ridge shaped like a arrow.
• The upper cap and texture: The upper part envelops the dancer’s head in the form of a rounded, smooth helmet. The transition between this domed forehead and the eye area is marked by a wide relief band etched with horizontal lines and chevron motifs, evoking the texture of fur or traditional scarifications.
• The ears: Small short, rounded ears are carved in relief on the sides of the helmet, echoing the spotted hyena’s morphology.
• The back and structure: At the rear, the piece is completely hollowed out in a crude manner to fit the wearer’s head. The eye cutouts pass entirely through the wood, giving the dancer a wide field of vision. Subtle perforations around the edges would have been used to attach a costume of dyed raffia fibers.
• The patina: The wood bears a matte, dry, earthy patina typical of objects kept in caves or cliff sanctuaries.
2. Use and Ritual Function: The Awa Society
Among the Dogon, animal masks belong to the male secret society of the Awa, which governs religious order and masked rituals:
• The Dama ceremonies: This mask primarily appears during the Dama. This major collective mourning ritual, sometimes held several years after the death of notable figures, aims to drive wandering souls of the dead (nyama) out of the village and to accompany them to the ancestors’ realm to restore order in the world.
• The symbolism of the hyena (Gonu): In Dogon cosmogony, each animal represented by a mask plays a precise role in the grand narrative of creation and social organization. The hyena is seen as a solitary, nocturnal animal, intelligent but often associated with cunning, gluttony, and the wild forces of the untamed bush.
• The portrayal of the bush: During dances on the village square or on the rooftops of houses, the bearers of the hyena mask perform a nervous, jerky choreography, mimicking the animal’s behavior to remind the living of the necessary balance between the village’s civilized world and the wild natural world.
The objects are shipped with insurance and a tracking number.
Delivery in France via Chronopost between 1 and 3 days and between 2 and 5 days across Europe. Delivery outside the EU and worldwide via Colissimo International.
We speak english
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
Indigenous object name
Hyena mask
Ethnic group/ culture
Dogon
Country of Origin
Mali
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
Yes
Condition
Good condition
Authenticity
Original/official
Sold by
