Additional information
| Primary Materials | |
|---|---|
| Materials | |
| Regions | |
| Ethnic Groups |
Bijago Hammerhead Shark Mask
The Bissagos Islands are clustered off the West African coast south of Guinea-Bissau. Their remoteness has slowed modern influences to the extent that masked dances remain popular forms of communal expression and entertainment. A variety of zoomorphic masks outfit their repertoire. The best known are bulls but — not surprisingly considering the seafaring lifestyles of the Bijago peoples — sharks, saw fish and rays are also popular. This mask celebrates the hammerhead shark, and would’ve been worn on the dancer’s forehead. The forward side presents a fearsome mouth with the reverse featuring a depiction of a sea serpent rendered in a swirl of red paint. The mask most likely dates to the 1970s. Ex Portuguese collection. 22″ across, mounted on a custom base.
