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Bamana. <em>Komo Society Mask</em>, late 19th–early 20th century. Wood, metal, antelope horns, porcupine quills, organic materials, 14 x 8 x 33 1/2 in. (35.6 x 20.3 x 85.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 69.39.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 69.39.3_version1_PS1.jpg)
Bamana. Komo Society Mask, late 19th–early 20th century. Wood, metal, antelope horns, porcupine quills, organic materials, 14 x 8 x 33 1/2 in. (35.6 x 20.3 x 85.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 69.39.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 69.39.3_version1_PS1.jpg)
Bamana. <em>Komo Society Mask</em>, late 19th–early 20th century. Wood, metal, antelope horns, porcupine quills, organic materials, 14 x 8 x 33 1/2 in. (35.6 x 20.3 x 85.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 69.39.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 69.39.3_version1_PS1.jpg)

Bamana. Komo Society Mask, late 19th–early 20th century. Wood, metal, antelope horns, porcupine quills, organic materials, 14 x 8 x 33 1/2 in. (35.6 x 20.3 x 85.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 69.39.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 69.39.3_version1_PS1.jpg)

Bamana. <em>Komo Society Mask</em>, late 19th–early 20th century. Wood, metal, antelope horns, porcupine quills, organic materials, 14 x 8 x 33 1/2 in. (35.6 x 20.3 x 85.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 69.39.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.69.39.3_print_threequarter_bw.jpg)

Bamana. Komo Society Mask, late 19th–early 20th century. Wood, metal, antelope horns, porcupine quills, organic materials, 14 x 8 x 33 1/2 in. (35.6 x 20.3 x 85.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 69.39.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.69.39.3_print_threequarter_bw.jpg)

Bamana. <em>Komo Society Mask</em>, late 19th–early 20th century. Wood, metal, antelope horns, porcupine quills, organic materials, 14 x 8 x 33 1/2 in. (35.6 x 20.3 x 85.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 69.39.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 69.39.3_version2_PS1.jpg)

Bamana. Komo Society Mask, late 19th–early 20th century. Wood, metal, antelope horns, porcupine quills, organic materials, 14 x 8 x 33 1/2 in. (35.6 x 20.3 x 85.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 69.39.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 69.39.3_version2_PS1.jpg)

Bamana. <em>Komo Society Mask</em>, late 19th–early 20th century. Wood, metal, antelope horns, porcupine quills, organic materials, 14 x 8 x 33 1/2 in. (35.6 x 20.3 x 85.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 69.39.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.69.39.3_print_side_bw.jpg)

Bamana. Komo Society Mask, late 19th–early 20th century. Wood, metal, antelope horns, porcupine quills, organic materials, 14 x 8 x 33 1/2 in. (35.6 x 20.3 x 85.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 69.39.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, CUR.69.39.3_print_side_bw.jpg)

Bamana. <em>Komo Society Mask</em>, late 19th–early 20th century. Wood, metal, antelope horns, porcupine quills, organic materials, 14 x 8 x 33 1/2 in. (35.6 x 20.3 x 85.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 69.39.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 69.39.3.jpg)

Bamana. Komo Society Mask, late 19th–early 20th century. Wood, metal, antelope horns, porcupine quills, organic materials, 14 x 8 x 33 1/2 in. (35.6 x 20.3 x 85.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 69.39.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 69.39.3.jpg)

Bamana. <em>Komo Society Mask</em>, late 19th–early 20th century. Wood, metal, antelope horns, porcupine quills, organic materials, 14 x 8 x 33 1/2 in. (35.6 x 20.3 x 85.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 69.39.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 69.39.3_version1_angled_PS1.jpg)

Bamana. Komo Society Mask, late 19th–early 20th century. Wood, metal, antelope horns, porcupine quills, organic materials, 14 x 8 x 33 1/2 in. (35.6 x 20.3 x 85.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 69.39.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 69.39.3_version1_angled_PS1.jpg)

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Komo Society Mask

Arts of Africa

Bamana masks such as this one are worn and seen only by members of the Komo association, whose members harness the power (nyama) contained in the mask to aid members of the community. Powerful materials—including blood, chewed kola nuts, and millet beer—are applied to the mask, while prayers and sacrifices are offered. The open mouth and the horns, tusks, and porcupine quills symbolize the Komo’s power to punish those who violate its rules.
CULTURE Bamana
MEDIUM Wood, metal, antelope horns, porcupine quills, organic materials
  • Place Made: Ségou, Koulikouro, or Sikasso Region, Mali
    • DATES late 19th–early 20th century
    DIMENSIONS 14 x 8 x 33 1/2 in. (35.6 x 20.3 x 85.1 cm)  (show scale)
    COLLECTIONS Arts of Africa
    ACCESSION NUMBER 69.39.3
    CREDIT LINE By exchange
    CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION Animal mask to be worn on top of head. Long narrow head with pair of long antelope horns projecting horizontally from one end and three smaller pairs set along snout between pairs of bristles. Snout is pierced by 3 rectangular openings. CONDITION: Completely covered with thick sacrificial patina. Many losses from insect damage. large piece of patina missing right rear. Two front pairs of horns are loose.
    EXHIBITIONS
    MUSEUM LOCATION This item is not on view
    CAPTION Bamana. Komo Society Mask, late 19th–early 20th century. Wood, metal, antelope horns, porcupine quills, organic materials, 14 x 8 x 33 1/2 in. (35.6 x 20.3 x 85.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 69.39.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 69.39.3_version1_PS1.jpg)
    IMAGE overall, 69.39.3_version1_PS1.jpg. Brooklyn Museum photograph, 2007
    "CUR" at the beginning of an image file name means that the image was created by a curatorial staff member. These study images may be digital point-and-shoot photographs, when we don\'t yet have high-quality studio photography, or they may be scans of older negatives, slides, or photographic prints, providing historical documentation of the object.
    RIGHTS STATEMENT Creative Commons-BY
    You may download and use Brooklyn Museum images of this three-dimensional work in accordance with a Creative Commons license. Fair use, as understood under the United States Copyright Act, may also apply. Please include caption information from this page and credit the Brooklyn Museum. If you need a high resolution file, please fill out our online application form (charges apply). For further information about copyright, we recommend resources at the United States Library of Congress, Cornell University, Copyright and Cultural Institutions: Guidelines for U.S. Libraries, Archives, and Museums, and Copyright Watch. For more information about the Museum's rights project, including how rights types are assigned, please see our blog posts on copyright. If you have any information regarding this work and rights to it, please contact copyright@brooklynmuseum.org.
    RECORD COMPLETENESS
    Not every record you will find here is complete. More information is available for some works than for others, and some entries have been updated more recently. Records are frequently reviewed and revised, and we welcome any additional information you might have.
    Bamana. <em>Komo Society Mask</em>, late 19th–early 20th century. Wood, metal, antelope horns, porcupine quills, organic materials, 14 x 8 x 33 1/2 in. (35.6 x 20.3 x 85.1 cm). Brooklyn Museum, By exchange, 69.39.3. Creative Commons-BY (Photo: Brooklyn Museum, 69.39.3_version1_PS1.jpg)

    TAGS

    mask
    bamana
    Mali
    Komo Society Mask
    wood
    metal
    Nyama
    Zoomorphic Mask
    religious
    ceremonial
    sacred
    Texture
    Antelope
    Porcupine
    Spirits
    Mud
    Honey
    Cow dung
    Human excrement
    Blood
    African mask

    TAGS

    mask
    bamana
    Mali
    Komo Society Mask
    wood
    metal
    Nyama
    Zoomorphic Mask
    religious
    ceremonial
    sacred
    Texture
    Antelope
    Porcupine
    Spirits
    Mud
    Honey
    Cow dung
    Human excrement
    Blood
    African mask

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