The Baga snake
bansonyi is a heavy top mask with a highly impressive form. It represents the ghost
A-Mantsho-na-Tshol, who watches over the members of a secret society and who is called upon during initiation ceremonies. Via a light wooden scaffolding the snake is held on the dancer’s shoulders, who completely disappears under a richly ornamented Raffia costume. The dancer moves hastily between the spectators, creating confusion, agitation and dramatic.
This old piece from a private collection in Hamburg is characterized not by its well preserved pattern by it’s high abstractive power especially through the distinctive snake curves. Such beautiful curved objects are rare and the most best preserved pieces are to be found in private American collections.
you will find the referring page from the book
African Art in American Collections.
