Horizontal Plank Ceremonial Dance Mask

Horizontally deployed masks of this type were generally worn during dances accompanying funerals or for entertainment at festivities and on certain market days.

The head or leader of the mask society has total sovereignty over all masks and usage in dance ceremonies.

The Bwa masks represent nature spirits, such as falcons, sparrows, hawks, bats, or butterflies with target-like circle characteristics. This mask is in the horizontal form of a winged zoomorphic creature, bird, or butterfly with the face centered in the middle of the plank. Facial features of the mask depict large circular eyes and a bill or beak protruding in a hook-like form.

Provenance:  The first known American collector was the renowned collector Lawrence P. Kolton and Rachel Angotti of Michigan City, Indiana, between the years of 1969 and 1979.