Jar

Bamana people, or Maninka people, Mali, African

Mid to late 20th century

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Brown ovoid jar with single ear-shaped handle has short, narrow vertical foot and slightly flared lip. Body of jar has texture from impressed cord and modeled lizard form.
Heddle pulley with hornbill head.
Staff with snake-head finial
Face mask with rabbit features. Narrow vertical oval ears painted red with white interiors; protruding conical black eyes surrounded by concentric black rings with white pigment in-between; protruding open triangular mouth/snout, painted black, adorned with small incised triangles painted white and red. Oval perimeter of back of mask pierced with multiple holes to enable attachment of mask to dancer's head as well as attachment of fiber costume. This type of mask is worn by men during funeral or initiation ceremonies. Animal masks commemorate encounters that people have had with ancestors who appeared in the form of an animal.