**Originally Listed At $2000** West Africa, Mali, Bandiagara region, Dogon people, ca. 1925 CE. A hand-carved ritualist mask known as a satimbe which means "sister on the head," a literal translation for what this mask depicts! The facial covering is rectangular box shape with protruding horns on the sides and deep grooves in the front with smaller drilled holes on the interior for the wearer to see through. As the name suggests, a stylized woman figure is surmounted on the top, and she stands on bowed legs with her arms held upward. She is nude, with large breasts and a prominent nasal ridge across her helmet shaped head. The satimbe masks were worn by the Awa society during funerary rites. The woman represents Yayemme or Yasigi, women of importance in Dogon mythology. A beautiful and abstract rendering with a dark patina! Size: 6.375" W x 33" H (16.2 cm x 83.8 cm); 37.5" H (95.2 cm) on included custom stand. Provenance: private Houston, Texas, USA collection, purchased from Whisnant Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA in 2003 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. #162798品相报告: Nicks and chips to high pointed areas. Losses to tips of horns on mask. Stable pressure cracks. Dark patina and traces of painted pigments.