This is the rating and price for 20Th C. African Mali Bamara Wooden Puppet, Ex-Museum

Description : Africa, Mali, Bamana / Bambara, ca. 1905. A hand-carved wooden puppet with a pronounced head presenting skillfully delineated facial features, a coiffure segmented into incised lobes, a disk-shaped headdress, and a cotton garment. The arms (one with a paddle-shaped hand, the other with delineated fingers) are separately carved and may be moved via long poles hidden beneath garment. The Bambara puppetry tradition is the oldest of Africa's surviving puppetry traditions. Size: 21 W x 32 H (53.3 cm x 81.3 cm) The puppets traditionally have been used for ceremonies and rituals to ask the gods for rains and resulting crops. According to legend, bush country spirits who kidnapped fisherman created such Malinese puppets, and while kidnapped by the spirits, these fisherman learned the art of puppetry. Upon returning home, they then taught their community how to create puppetry. Provenance: ex-private Frank and Theresa Caplan collection, purchased in 1983 from Munyoki Musyoka in Princeton, New Jersey, donated to Children's Museum of Indianapolis in 1985 (85.1.15407) All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #152187
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Estimate (low-high) : 600 USD-900 USD It's free to register now to view!

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