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THBEarly 20th C. Mali Marka Kore Wood Mask - Brass Overlay
Lot 58
About Seller
Artemis Fine Arts
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
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Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$1,500 - $2,500
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| $300 | $50 |
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| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Fine Arts
Aug 22, 2025
Set Reminder
2025-08-22 10:00:00
2025-08-22 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Indigenous Art - Ralph T. Coe Center, Santa Fe, NM
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/indigenous-art---ralph-t-coe-center-santa-fe-nm-20324
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
View Full Catalog (452)
- Lot Description
West Africa, Mali, Marka, ca. early 20th century CE. A striking early 20th century Marka kore mask, masterfully carved from wood and sheathed in finely tooled brass, its lustrous metal surface meticulously worked with intricate geometric motifs. The mask's elongated form tapers to a narrow chin and culminates in a remarkable crest depicting an anthropomorphic figure reclining backwards, kneess bent, feet resting upon a zoomorphic ornament resembling a ram's head. This sculptural tableau rises boldly from the domed brow, creating a dynamic interplay of human and animal forms. Long vertical bands of hammered brass descend from the forehead to the chin, flanking recessed eye slits that lend the mask an air of solemn dignity. Traces of red fiber tassels remain at the terminus of the brass bands, providing a vivid accent against the shimmering metallic surface. Size: 6" L x 7" W x 16.5" H (15.2 cm x 17.8 cm x 41.9 cm)
Marka masks such as this were traditionally worn during the ceremonies of the Kore society, an initiation and performance association known for its didactic and often satirical masquerades. The gleaming brass overlay - crafted from repurposed trade metals - was a mark of prestige, intended to dazzle audiences and invoke supernatural presence during public dances. Elongated in profile and dramatically stylized, this mask embodies the Marka ideal of refined elegance and spiritual potency, serving both as a visual spectacle and a conduit for ancestral and moral instruction.
Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, acquired in 2010 via descent; ex-private collection of Ralph T. Coe, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, purchased in June 2002; ex-Taylor Dale Gallery, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA; ex-South American collection, purchased in Paris before 1940
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.
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#196056Lower part of verso has been repaired with string and break lines visible. Some stable hairline fissutres to wood in areas. Missing a few nails, tassels, and possible crown ornaments. Metal loose in some areas. New nail on properright side. Nicks and abrasions throughout. Liberal remaining pigment. Good detail and rich patina to surface.Condition
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