Bambara Kore Society Hyena Mask

Spotted, ochre, and not at all sorry about the laugh.

Bambara carvers of Mali, also called the Bamana, made this hyena mask in the 20th century. It belongs to the Kore society, one of the initiation associations through which men learned the knowledge of the community, and the hyena is among its well-known characters. The oval face is painted warm reddish ochre and dotted all over with dark spots. Large round eye openings sit above a projecting triangular snout, and two pointed ears rise from the top.

The wood shows wear around the edges. Six and a half inches tall. Small. Cunning. Hard to ignore.