Usually carved and worn by blacksmiths during initiation rites and funerals, Bobo masks were often depicted with anthropomorphic faces and horns or crests like this one, symbolising the energy and spiritual strength of the forest animals.
This large wooden mask, characterised by a notched crest, a convex forehead with deep asymmetrical furrows, castellated eyes and a huge nose, was originally entirely covered with kaolin and then carefully painted with natural pigments in geometric figures. This is evident by observing the places where the pigment has skipped, leaving the underlying white of the kaolin visible.
Obvious defects, signs of use.