ID: 700000066 Page link: http://vocab.getty.edu/page/cona/700000066	Record Type: Movable Work
Images: 1

Crest mask (chi wara kun) (chiwara; Bamana artist; late 19th-early 20th century; National Museum of African Art (Washington, DC, United State...; 91-8-1.2)

Note: Few objects are so generally identified with African art as the Bamana "antelope" crest mask. It is actually a complex object, with tremendous variations in style and technique, but share the same symbolism. Most African sculptures are carved from one piece of wood, but the horizontal style of antelope mask uses two: one for the head and neck, and one for the body. The mask has a strong silhouette with a spiral tail and sweeping horns. The surface is textured with incised geometric designs. Combines the horns of a large antelope; the body of an aardvark with its big ears, short legs and thick tail; and the textured skin and curling ability of the pangolin--all animals who dig up the earth. This makes them fitting representations of Chi Wara, the supernatural being who the Bamana traditionally believed taught people to farm.

Titles:

Crest mask (chi wara kun) (preferred,C,U,RP,English-P,U,U)

One of a Pair of Bamana Headdresses (Chi Wara) (C,U,FO,English,U,U)

Catalog Level: item

Work Types:

chiwara [300262715] (preferred)

..... (Objects Facet, Furnishings and Equipment (hierarchy name), Costume (hierarchy name), costume (mode of fashion), costume accessories, worn costume accessories, <accessories by location on the head>, headgear, headdresses)

Classifications:

costume / clothing (preferred)

African art

sculptures

Creation Date: late 19th-early 20th century

Creator Display:

Bamana artist [preferred,VP,NMAfA]

carver unknown Bamana (Bamana cultural designation) [500202933]

Locations:

Other: Creation: Bamako [7000468] (Geographic)

Current: National Museum of African Art (Washington, DC, United States) [500311458] Smithsonian Institution, Corporate Bodies (Corp. Body)

Repository Numbers: 91-8-1.2

Credit Line: Gift of Ernst Anspach and museum purchase

Display Materials: wood, iron, cotton fiber

	wood (plant material) [300011914]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by origin>, biological material, plant material, <wood and wood by product>)

	iron (metal) [300011002]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by composition>, inorganic material, metal, <metal by composition or origin>, <iron and iron alloy>)

	cotton (fiber) [300183670]
	.......(Materials Facet, Materials (hierarchy name), materials (substances), <materials by form>, <materials by physical form>, <fiber and fiber by product>, fiber, natural fiber, plant fiber)

Dimensions: 54 x 59.1 x 8.3 cm (21 1/4 x 23 1/4 x 3 1/4 in.)

Cultures:

Bamana (preferred)

General Subject:

religion and mythology (preferred)

animals

Specific Subjects:

	antelopes [300250022]
	.....(Agents Facet, Living Organisms (hierarchy name), living organisms (entities), Eukaryota (domain), Animalia (kingdom), Chordata (phylum), Vertebrata (subphylum), Mammalia (class), Artiodactyla (order), Bovidae (family)) (AAT)

	aardvark (species) [300255499]
	.....(Agents Facet, Living Organisms (hierarchy name), living organisms (entities), Eukaryota (domain), Animalia (kingdom), Chordata (phylum), Vertebrata (subphylum), Mammalia (class), Tubulidentata (order), Orycteropus (genus)) (AAT)

	pangolin [300255516]
	.....(Agents Facet, Living Organisms (hierarchy name), living organisms (entities), Eukaryota (domain), Animalia (kingdom), Chordata (phylum), Vertebrata (subphylum), Mammalia (class), Pholidota (order), Manidae (family)) (AAT)

	dance (performing arts genre) [300054144]
	.....(Associated Concepts Facet, Associated Concepts (hierarchy name), <concepts in the arts and humanities>, <genres in literature and performing arts>, <genres for performing arts>) (AAT)

	ceremonial objects [300234117]
	.....(Objects Facet, Object Genres (hierarchy name), object genres (object classifications), <object genres by function>) (AAT)

	apparels (vestment components) [300221716]
	.....(Objects Facet, Components (hierarchy name), components (objects parts), <components by specific context>, costume components) (AAT)

List/Hierarchical Position:

..... Movable Works

.......... Movable Works by class: decorative and utilitarian works

Sources and Contributors:
Crest mask (chi wara kun)	........ [VP,NMAfA]
	........ National Museum of African Art [online] (1999-) accessed 13 February 2018
One of a Pair of Bamana Headdresses (Chi Wara)	........ [VP]
	........ National Museum of African Art [online] (1999-)

Subject: ....... [VP]

....................... National Museum of African Art [online] (1999-) https://africa.si.edu/collections/view/objects/asitem/People@1379/41/title-desc?t:state:flow=50784cc9-a910-4252-a492-a23c590b1663

Note:
English	..... [VP]
	..... National Museum of African Art [online] (1999-) accessed 10 March 2005