Bambara Chi Wara, Tji, Mali, African Tribal Creations, art Bamana antelope Marka

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Bambara Chi Wara, Tji, Mali, African Tribal Creations, art Bamana antelope Marka:
$97.80

AnAfrican Tribal Creations gallery sale!!!This sale is for a lovely Bambara Chi Wara figure/headdress. Denizens of southern and western Mali, the Bambara, or Bamana, people are a very large ethnic group, consisting of roughly 2.5 million people. Their territory is bisected by the Niger river, and despite their largely arid homeland, they are a mostly agrarian people, producing corn, millet, and other crops, basing their local economies, for the most part, on subsistence farming. With a number of secret societies, each producing numerous and noteworthy forms of artwork, the Bambara have become well known among African art collectors, primarily for their N\'tomo masks and Chi Wara headdresses.
Created in many forms, the Chi Wara, or Tji Wara, is a mythological creature that is primarily modeled after the form of the antelope, which the people believe originally brought the knowledge of agriculture to them, teaching them how to farm by using its horns to scratch and turn the soil. Tji Wara translates rather literally to mean \'work animal\', and among the Bambara society, the headdresses were primarily utilized in dance routines and ceremonies intended to encourage cooperation among the people, in large part to secure a successful crop for the community. This Chi Wara take the form of the most famous motif, a single ChiWara, represented as an almost skeletal form of alternating triangular lattice abbreviated on either end by the animal\'s head and its body. The horns are long and graceful, banded in the middle with a wrap of metal. From its face and back, are hung cowrie shells, a common symbol of prosperity. The base is attached to a woven basket, which would be strapped to the top of the head in ceremony, and the dancer would be covered in a raffia costume. The piece is in very good condition, and though one of the back spines appears to have broken off long ago, it has become naturalized into the piece and does not affect the impact of the piece. The patina is a light brown, and standard age and wear marks are present. This is an excellentpiece that will make a fantastic compliment to any ethnic collection!
Dimensions are 37\" tall x 11.5\" x 8.75\". It weighs in at three pounds.MEDIUM: Wood, Metal, Cowries (seashells), Fiber
NOTHINGwe sell at African Tribal Creations is made in China, Taiwan, Thailand, or wherever. All items are 100% guaranteedAFRICAN ART, made in Africa BY the indigenous peoples of Africa. We have 100% positive response for a reason.
Not quite the piece you\'re looking for?Check us out atthe African Tribal Creations galleryfor much more 100% genuine African art!
Photographs are copyright of African Tribal Creations, and should not be used without permission. Thanks for understanding!

Payment is expected within 3 days of sale close. Unless other arrangements are made, negative response will be assessed in the event of non payment.
This is a beautiful piece of art! It would be a great compliment to any decor, or private collection!
PayPal is the only accepted payment method unless other arrangements are made. Thank you!
Ships insured, and with delivery confirmation so you can track your purchase to your door! Please be advised that in the event of a broken piece, USPS will require you to surrender the piece to obtain a full refund. Shipping price is for the Continental US only. If you are offerding from Alaska or Hawaii, please contact us about shipping rates, or they will be applied to your invoice. Let us know if you\'re interested in combined shipping! Thanks!
We will ship internationally, but please contact for a shipping quote. We cannot be held responsible for customs hold ups! We will do our best, but at the end of the day, we can\'t offer an absolute international guarantee. Thanks for understanding!