West African Mali Carved Wood Bamana Chi Wara Ci Wara Antelope 18\" X 5\" For Sale

A Chiwara (also Chi Wara, Ci Wara, or Tyi Wara; Bambara: ciwara; French: tchiwara) is a ritual object representing an antelope, used by the Bambara ethnic group in Mali. The Chiwara initiation society uses Chiwara masks, as well as dances and rituals associated primarily with agriculture, to teach young Bamana men social values as well as agricultural techniques. Chiwara masks are categorized in three ways: horizontal, vertical, or abstract. In addition, Chiwara can be either male or female. Female Chiwara masks are denoted by the presence of a baby antelope and straight horns. Male Chiwara masks have bent horns and a phallus. The sex of a Chiwara mask is much clearer on horizontal and vertical masks while abstract masks tend to be difficult to classify. The appearance of the Chiwara form varies greatly both by region and time produced. Specific master woodcarvers also subtly modified the accepted (or even religiously mandated) local forms, forming a distinct \"signature\" or \"school\" of Chiwara figures. These regional variations have been roughly assigned the stylistic categories above. The measurement is 18 inches tall and 5 inches wide.
Note; Photos are exact representations of the item.

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