A very old zoomorphic mask from the Kono society. Absolutely emblematic of the Kono society, this mask does not represent any specific species, but evokes and embodies several animals at once, including a nocturnal bird of prey, an elephant, a crocodile and a fawn. In some versions, it can also evoke an electric fish. Cumulating an infinite number of qualities, these masks were periodically washed with vegetable fiber sponges and coated with kaolin before receiving new sacrifices. Reputedly powerful objects, this type of mask not only danced, but could also become boliw themselves, thus becoming mother masks and giving birth to other masks. Initiated men, whether Bambara or Senoufo, had long since turned the principle of fertilization to their advantage. See J.P.Colleyn, Boli, Paris 2006, pages 73, 74 and 146 for other masks from the same corpus. Bambara (or Bamana), Mali, 19th century Wood, cotton, sacrificial plaster, small visible accidents and chips, very fine old oxidation, and very fine old patina. Height: 94cm Provenance: Alice and Henri Dupont Alice and Henri Dupont Collection, Lille, acquired c. 1960 Passed on by descent