No. 98500859

No longer available
temne - temne - Sierra Leone
Bidding closed
10 weeks ago

temne - temne - Sierra Leone

Large male initiation mask, known as "Kabemba" made for the Rabai initiation. Deeply carved with high rounded forehead, circular relief ears, flat facial plane painted with spotted pattern in white pigment, squared eyeholes and mouth. Scarification on cheeks and built up cheeks on sides engraved with cross, and elongated face sharply tapering to pointed chin. Abraded surface on right cheek, back and right edge very eroded. Thick rough blackened patina with remnants of fiber pieces. As per Dr. Lamp, These masks are extremely rare, the initiation this mask appeared in became defunct in 1980. There is only one publication on this Temne initiation, by Frederick Lamp, "Frogs into Princes: The Temne Rabai Initiation," African Arts, XI, 2, 1978: 34 49, 94. A similar Malinke initiation is described by Camara Laye in his memoir, African Child, (L'enfant Noir) Collins, London, 1954. Dr. Frederick Lamp, New Haven, CT., purchased from a Mandingo trader, Howe Street, Freetown, Sierra Leone, 20 May 1980.

No. 98500859

No longer available
temne - temne - Sierra Leone

temne - temne - Sierra Leone

Large male initiation mask, known as "Kabemba" made for the Rabai initiation. Deeply carved with high rounded forehead, circular relief ears, flat facial plane painted with spotted pattern in white pigment, squared eyeholes and mouth. Scarification on cheeks and built up cheeks on sides engraved with cross, and elongated face sharply tapering to pointed chin. Abraded surface on right cheek, back and right edge very eroded. Thick rough blackened patina with remnants of fiber pieces. As per Dr. Lamp, These masks are extremely rare, the initiation this mask appeared in became defunct in 1980. There is only one publication on this Temne initiation, by Frederick Lamp, "Frogs into Princes:
The Temne Rabai Initiation," African Arts, XI, 2, 1978: 34 49, 94. A similar Malinke initiation is described by Camara Laye in his memoir, African Child, (L'enfant Noir) Collins,
London, 1954.

Dr. Frederick Lamp, New Haven, CT., purchased from a Mandingo trader, Howe Street, Freetown, Sierra Leone, 20 May 1980.

Bidding closed
Julien Gauthier
Expert
Estimate  € 1,200 - € 1,500

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