COLLECTION NAME:
The AMICA Library
mediaCollectionId
AMICO~1~1
The AMICA Library
Collection
true
AMICA ID:
BCM_.72.114.7
amicoid
BCM_.72.114.7
AMICA ID
false
AMICA Library Year:
2003
aly
2003
AMICA Library Year
false
Object Type:
Costume and Jewelry
oty
Costume and Jewelry
Object Type
false
Description:
Wooden headcrest representing a vertical style female Orynx antelope with a small female baby standing on her back; figure standing on thick rectangular block with two center holes for attachment to a basketry cap; flat legs angle outward from corners of the block and join a thin flat body with short pointed extended tail; neck rises in hemispherical curve from front of body and joined to the back of the thin, elongated head; round ears with recessed centers on sides of head; long, straight horns with spiral grooves and smooth tips extend upward above ears; human-like mouth and nostrils at pointed end of snout; head decorated with bands of punched triangles; baby stands on back behind mother's neck with a slight backward angle; two separate flat rear legs and one solid flat front leg; baby's style and decoration identical to mother's; surface blackened by smith's smoke, soot and rubbing.
opd
Wooden headcrest representing a vertical style female Orynx antelope with a small female baby standing on her back; figure standing on thick rectangular block with two center holes for attachment to a basketry cap; flat legs angle outward from corners of the block and join a thin flat body with short pointed extended tail; neck rises in hemispherical curve from front of body and joined to the back of the thin, elongated head; round ears with recessed centers on sides of head; long, straight horns with spiral grooves and smooth tips extend upward above ears; human-like mouth and nostrils at pointed end of snout; head decorated with bands of punched triangles; baby stands on back behind mother's neck with a slight backward angle; two separate flat rear legs and one solid flat front leg; baby's style and decoration identical to mother's; surface blackened by smith's smoke, soot and rubbing.
Description
false
Creator Nationality:
African
crc
African
Creator Nationality
false
Creator Name-CRT:
Bamana, Mali
crt
Bamana, Mali
Creator Name-CRT
false
Title:
Headcrest Mask (Chi Wara)
otn
Headcrest Mask (Chi Wara)
Title
false
View:
Full view
rid
Full view
View
false
Creation Date:
20th century
oct
20th century
Creation Date
false
Creation Start Date:
1900
ocs
1900
Creation Start Date
false
Creation End Date:
1972
oce
1972
Creation End Date
false
Materials and Techniques:
Wood
omd
Wood
Materials and Techniques
false
Classification Term:
Headgear
clt
Headgear
Classification Term
false
Creation Place:
Mali, Africa
ocp
Mali, Africa
Creation Place
false
Dimensions:
Height: 32"; width: 9"
met
Height: 32"; width: 9"
Dimensions
false
AMICA Contributor:
Brooklyn Children's Museum
oon
Brooklyn Children's Museum
AMICA Contributor
false
Owner Location:
Brooklyn, New York, USA
oop
Brooklyn, New York, USA
Owner Location
false
ID Number:
72.114.7
ooa
72.114.7
ID Number
false
Credit Line:
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. David G. Gerofsky, 1972
ooc
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. David G. Gerofsky, 1972
Credit Line
false
Rights:
orl
<a href="http://www.amico.org/rights/bcm_.html"target="_new">http://www.amico.org/rights/bcm_.html</a>
Rights
false
Context:
Traditionally, Chi Wara headcrests represented the mythical antelope-man who taught the Bamana to farm. Male and female masks dance in pairs wearing enveloping fiber capes during hoeing contests at planting and harvest. Dancers remain bent, probing the ground with short sticks in imitation of the antelope. Masquerades recreate and commemorate the antelope's teachings. Male antelopes have manes; females have babies on their backs.
The vertical crest type is from eastern Bamana area; the horizontal, two-piece crest from western Bamana. Chi Wara forms are interpreted in various ways: triangular scarifications may refer to hair patterns, horns to millet stalks, the pointed snout to that of a burrowing aardvark or pangolin. A coiled tail may indicate a chameleon and immortality. Many of the symbols represent sexuality and fertility. Chi Waras are now worn for secular hoeing contests to honor the best farmer and for entertainment. Chi Waras were originally worn by members of the fifth Bamana Secret Society Association.
The vertical crest type is from eastern Bamana area; the horizontal, two-piece crest from western Bamana. Chi Wara forms are interpreted in various ways: triangular scarifications may refer to hair patterns, horns to millet stalks, the pointed snout to that of a burrowing aardvark or pangolin. A coiled tail may indicate a chameleon and immortality. Many of the symbols represent sexuality and fertility. Chi Waras are now worn for secular hoeing contests to honor the best farmer and for entertainment. Chi Waras were originally worn by members of the fifth Bamana Secret Society Association.
cxd
Traditionally, Chi Wara headcrests represented the mythical antelope-man who taught the Bamana to farm. Male and female masks dance in pairs wearing enveloping fiber capes during hoeing contests at planting and harvest. Dancers remain bent, probing the ground with short sticks in imitation of the antelope. Masquerades recreate and commemorate the antelope's teachings. Male antelopes have manes; females have babies on their backs.<br><br>The vertical crest type is from eastern Bamana area; the horizontal, two-piece crest from western Bamana. Chi Wara forms are interpreted in various ways: triangular scarifications may refer to hair patterns, horns to millet stalks, the pointed snout to that of a burrowing aardvark or pangolin. A coiled tail may indicate a chameleon and immortality. Many of the symbols represent sexuality and fertility. Chi Waras are now worn for secular hoeing contests to honor the best farmer and for entertainment. Chi Waras were originally worn by members of the fifth Bamana Secret Society Association.
Context
false
Related Image Identifier Link:
BCM_.72-114-7.tif
ril
BCM_.72-114-7.tif
Related Image Identifier Link
false