Lot 185

African Mossi Wood Karan-Wemba Funerary Mask, ex Museum

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Lot 185
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African Mossi Wood Karan-Wemba Funerary Mask, ex Museum
African Mossi Wood Karan-Wemba Funerary Mask, ex Museum
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African Mossi Wood Karan-Wemba Funerary Mask, ex Museum

Estimate: $900 - $1,350

Starting Bid: $400

(0 Bids)
by Artemis Fine Arts
June 25, 2026 9:00 AM MDT (In Progress)
Live Auction
686 S. Taylor Avenue
Suite 108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

West Africa, Burkina Faso, Yatenga Province, Upper Volta, Mossi peoples, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A large wooden Karan-wemba mask, with a stylized woman standing atop the face panel. Such an elaborate mask would be worn during funerary rites for a revered woman known as "wemba" and a handle protrudes from the chin of the mask for the wearer to hold and dance with. The abstract face has eye holes for seeing through and a vertical ridge that is indicative of the Yatenga region. Wemba woman are those who have married, raised children, and once widowed, have returned to their father's household. They are regarded as elders of high respect and wisdom - having fulfilled their roles as wives and mothers. Their age also creates spiritual link between the new and past generations. Size: 50" L x 7" W (127 cm x 17.8 cm)

This mask was loaned to the University of South Dakota Art Galleries for the African Art Exhibition in September 14th to October 30th 1992.

Provenance: private Littleton, Colorado, USA collection, acquired from Ben M. Pickard Galleries, July 1973, and collected prior to 1965 in West Africa

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Item # 186864

  • Condition: Restoration, the very top of the face panel and the surface that the figure's feet are attached to - is new plaster material, painted and blended to match the wood. Old chips and abrasions, otherwise the rest of the face panel and figure are wood and have no other repairs. Nice patina throughout.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000