Male Face Mask (Zamble)

Description

Representing a capricious and fearsome nature spirit, zamble is the name of a mask type that combines animal and human features, including antelope horns and the jaw of a dog or crocodile. In times past, zamble primarily appeared on the occasion of a man’s second funeral, which would be organized months or years after the actual burial to commemorate the accomplishments of the deceased. Performances took the form of competitions between mask dancersfrom two different families.

Provenance

Unknown private collection, Paris [personal communication from J. Germain in curatorial file]; sold to Galerie Lucas Ratton, Paris, by 2015 [Lucas Ratton, 2015, pp. 88 and 89]; sold to Galerie Jacques Germain, Montreal, 2015 [personal communication from J. Germain in curatorial file; Jacques Germain, 2017, pp. 146-147]; sold to the Art Institute, 2017.

Male Face Mask (Zamble)

Guro

Possibly early or mid–20th century

Accession Number

239464

Medium

Wood and pigment

Dimensions

50.8 × 15.9 × 29.3 cm (20 × 6 1/4 × 11 1/2 in.)

Classification

masks

Museum

The Art Institute of Chicago

Chicago, United States

Credit Line

Through prior bequest of Florene May Schoenborn