Mask of the so-called “à planche” type, with engraved geometric decoration, depicting Bayiri, protective spirit of both groups, Bwa or Wimiana. Carved wood with traces of lively polychromy
NOTE: for similar examples see University of Iowa, Stanley Museum of Art, USA, cat. 2011.27 a-c or J. Kerchache, J.L. Paudrat, L'art africain, ill.914, coll. Ilia Malichin.
Provenance: Parisian collection of the painter Arturo Carmassi (Lucca 1925 - Empoli 2015). This piece had come through the inheritance of the collector and humanist Renèe Druart (Grasse 1888 - 1961) whose daughter Carmassi had married.