| Bozo Hippo marionette head Mali |
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| Directly below is a photograph of a "Hippo mask" from Guinea-Bissau, along with a couple of other animal masks from the same culture. I just put these on this page for reference purposes. |
| Hippo mask (Egomore) Bidojo/Bidjogo peoples, Ilha de Nago, Bissagos (Bijagos) Islands, Guinea-Bissau Wood, fiber, leather, animal hair, metal nails, glass eyes, pigment Height - 25.5cm (10 1/16 inches) From the exhibition: "In the Presence of Spirits" - National Museum of African Art http://www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/spirits/intro.htm The extremely heavy hippo mask disappeared from the Bissagos Islands during the 1970s, probably because it is labor intensive to make and perhaps because the boys complained about carrying the weight. This mask type originated in the northernmost islands, Ponta and Maïo, which amphibious mammals once reached from the mouth of the River Geba on the mainland nearby. The mask is painted red in reference to the color of the hippo's glandular secretions. Animal hair was fastened around the ears, eye sockets and the articulated muzzle. Frosted glass brought the gaze of the mask to life. The enormous bulk of the mask forced its wearer to use two wooden crutches with flaring ends that suggest hooves. __________________________ |
| My hippo head also has some similar carving qualities found in the Bidjogo Vaca Bruto (bull) masks further supporting my thoughts that my hippo head is likely from the Bidjogo peoples. |
| Bidjogo peoples, Caduna, Ilha de Uno, Bissagos Islands, Guinea-Bissau Wood, horns, fiber cord, pigment, glass eyes Height 46 cm (19 1/8 inches) The most spectacular Bidjogo mask is a helmet mask called Vaca Bruto (meaning "wild cattle"). The largest examples are found on the islands of Uno and Formosa. The dancer gives the object its most realistic presence by bowing and facing the ground. Its eyes of frosted glass, real horns, leather ears and the rope through the nostrils are all animated by the bucking of the boy. These features convey the illusion of a real untamed animal. This corresponds to the idea of a man in full possession of his physical strength but still immature in his behavior because he has not yet undergone all the initiation trials. A young man in the cabaro stage of maturity, which lasts for some 10 years, wears the heaviest costumes. Elements of these costumes include back ornaments, belts, bells, arm guards and heavy, painted masks carved from wood. These objects show that he is still only a brutal beast. He has the right to be stylish and even whimsical. In the full bloom of youth and without regular work, he enjoys the best time of his life. He has romances with women and travels throughout the islands as his responsibilities increase with age. From the exhibition: "In the Presence of Spirits" - National Museum of African Art http://www.nmafa.si.edu/exhibits/spirits/intro.htm |
| Sotheby's - Nov 16, 2001 A Bidjogo shark mask in the form of a shark's head, the broad mouth carved on the underside with jagged teeth and a fiber fringe attached, the circular eyes incised on either side with chevron-shaped gills framing a broad, domed crown; light brown patina with black and white pigment. length 12 3/4 in. (32.4cm.) Provenance: James Willis Gallery, San Francisco Cf. Societe des Expositions (1988: 137, number 35) for a closely related example. |
| Another possible attribution of my hippo head was presented to me by my friend Vero who did the translation of the story at the beginning of the page. She sent me the scanned photo below showing a hippo mask that is Ijo. She states - "Upon further reflection, this hippo-mask could also be an IJO (/ Ijaw). Ijo used such horizontal helmet-masks to represent water-spirits. As far as I know, the Ijo do not have statues or masks with hinged-jaws - but it is very common among their eastern neighbours." |
| "Handbuch der afrikanischen Kunst" (Manual of African Art) - by Ulrich Klever, Ed. Bruckmann, Munich 1975. The hippo shown on the book is small (only 30 cm).Still, the Ijo horizontal helmet-mask can be very large. |
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| 30" long x 13" wide Mouth and ears move. There are metal plates on parts of the head and some sort of animal hair attached around the ears, eyes and nose. It has a metal rod attached to the underneath that would have been used to hold it or attach it to something. Click on any image to see full size version |
| THE EXAMPLE BELOW IS NOT IN MY COLLECTION IT IS FOR REFERENCE PURPOSES |
| The example above is from Galerie Albert Loeb in Paris. It's the only example like mine that I've been able to find. |