Bwa people, Burkina Fasso

25 inches, painted wood

Like the popular hawk mask, this strange looking creature is also considered to be a protective spirit. It could be a rooster or the eel-like Kobiay. Neither are seen on the market very often. For reference, see Figure 101, Page 91, of African Art in American Collections; or Figure 22, Page 242 of African Masks from the Barbier-Mueller Collection. This particular example is rather large and shows little wear-- a rare and impressive piece.