LARGE FEMALE BAMBARA TCHI WARA MASK 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 Wednesday, September 03, 2008 End Time Wednesday, September 10, 2008 Location TANQUE VERDE VALLEY See more about 'LARGE FEMALE BAMBARA TCHI WARA MASK ' Description BAMBARA TJI WARA ANTELOPE MASK MALI 47" TALL  IN EXCELLENT CONDITION.  WOOD, LEATHER, HAIR, BRASSESTIMATED AGE AT 30  +  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 fascionating 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 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 $ 500.00 SHIPPING  $ 40.00 - USA  NOT AVAILABLE INTERNATIONAL *** 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. , INSURANCE is INCLUDED  Winning bidders outside of the United States get Air  Mail. 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 if you have any questions or would like an invoice for Paypal.     Place a Bid!