BAMBARA - LARGE, 45", MALE TCHI WARA - MALI Start Price USD 199.99 Current Price USD 199.99 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price USD 250.00 Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, August 31, 2008 End Time Sunday, September 07, 2008 Location TANQUE VERDE VALLEY See more about 'BAMBARA - LARGE, 45", MALE TCHI WARA - MALI ' Description   BAMBARA TJI WARA MALI 45" TALL THIS TRADITIONAL MASK IS IN EXCELLENT CEREMONIALLY USED CONDITION. GOOD PATINA AND AGE CRACKS, WEAR.HARD HEAVY WOOD , BRASS STRING            COMPARE @ http://www.hamillgallery.com/BAMANA/BamanaChiWara/BamanaChiWaraAbstract/BamanaChiWaraAbstract.html ESTIMATED AGE AT A  OVER 20  YEARS OLD Tji Wara (Chi wara) - Tji Waras are "danced" twice a year, for the planting, and again after the harvest to honor the best farmer in the village. Sometimes the figure is above another animal, not always clearly definable as to species. The antelope represents the mythical character who taught the Bambara how to cultivate the land. The horn is a symbol of the millet's growth. For a fascinating discussion of Bamana sculptors, see Brett-Smith's THE MAKING OF BAMANA SCULPTURE-CREATIVITY AND GENDER, and superb examples in BAMANA-THE ART OF EXISTENCE IN MALI, edited by Colleyn. The Chi Wara Society, is one of the most important Bamana secret societies. Dances are performed annually featuring both male and female antelope headdresses. Performed in the fields, the dances are to ensure a good harvest and, by extension, to guarantee the survival of the community. Chi Wara society is one of the few secret societies that admits women, although only initiated men are eligible to attain the higher levels, and only men may carve the dance masks. The inclusion of women stresses the underlying concept of Chi Wara: the continuity of the Bamana can only be assured through the union of man and woman (male: fire, sun) and (female: earth, water). The largest and most powerful tribe in the Western Sudan, the Bambara live in the open savanna to the southwest of the Dogon. Though they are Moslem, they maintain many of their ancient religious rites, which are principally concerned with agriculture and the fertility of the land. Among the best known of the Bambara associations is the tji wara. In the past the purpose of the Tji Wara association was to encourage cooperation among all members of the community to ensure a successful crop. In recent time, however, the Bambara concept of tji wara has become associated with the notion of good farmer, and the tji wara masqueraders are regarded as a farming beast. The Bambara sponsor farming contests where the tji wara masqueraders perform. Always performing together in a male and female pair, the coupling of the antelope masqueraders speaks of fertility and agricultural abundance. According to one interpretation, the male antelope represents the sun and the female the earth. The antelope imagery of the carved headdress was inspired by a Bambara myth that recounts the story of a mythical beast (half antelope and half human) who introduced agriculture to the Bambara people. The dance performed by the masqueraders mimes the movements of the antelope. This artifact presents a very unusual image of the tji wara  From the artistic point of view the tji wara are probably the finest examples of stylized African art, for  with a delicate play of line the sensitive carvings display the natural beauty of the living antelope.          APPROXIMATE VALUE  $ 450.00 +/- SHIPPING $35.00 + USA $NOT AVAILABLE TO ALL COUNTRIES $ 50.00 ++++  TO CANADA INSURANCE INCLUDED *** Please note that all old used Arts will have minor imperfections, chips, age cracks and other minor irregularities.*** If you cannot live with that or want a perfect piece, Please do not bid as old used items are never perfect. I will try my best to point out anything beyond that in my item descriptions. PLEASE READ THE LISTING BEFORE BIDDING . DO NOT BID IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO PAY. Return Policy: All items purchased can be returned for a CREDIT within 14 days if item is not as described (minus shipping costs). POLICIES: Buyer prepays, plus shipping and handling. , Winning bidders outside of the United States get Air Mail. I go to the post office once or twice per week . Please be patient. After the auction has ended, I will send you email notification of your winning bid, requesting your shipping information. Upon your reply, due within 3 business days, I will email you with complete information for mailing in your payment or charging through  PayPal (available for U.S. customers and now most International countries). Payments are due within 14 days from close of auction. Seller reserves the right to relist item if payment is not received within stated time. Please check out my feedback comments left by ALL MY satisfied customers regarding my accuracy of descriptions, quality of merchandise and care in shipping. As an Ebay Power Seller we guarantee our descriptions to be accurate. Sorry, no refunds for buyer’s remorse. I invite you to please view my listing of other current eBay auctions. Multiple auctions won by the same bidder can be combined to help save on postage. SELLER RETAINS THE RIGHT TO NOT SELL TO ANY BIDDER Winning bidders , Please follow the Auto Response          URL and enter your mailing address, so that your merchandise will be sent to the correct address. Payment methods: If paying with a check or money order, follow the CONGRATULATIONS response E mail for our mailing address. If paying with credit cards through PAYPAL, My account email is: ethnoartsinc@netscape.net E mail through ebay  if you have any questions or would like an invoice for Paypal.   HAPPY BIDDING , HAVE  A GREAT DAY AND GOOD LUCK  HAPPY BIDDING, HAVE A GREAT DAY AND GOOD LUCK Place a Bid!