Thinker’s Mask

Curious African bronze mask, actually brass, with a patina characteristic of iron oxide. This small senufo mask seems to be dogon-inspired, taking into account, at its top, the presence of the thinker, typically dogon character. These small masks could be worn in ritual ceremonies or placed on family altars. However, except for the ancient bronzes of Ife and Benin and even though the procedure of lost wax has been known for centuries in many ethnic groups, bronze masks do not seem to rise to more than seven or eight decades old. Interestingly, it has a very open circular mouth. Brown patina formed by rust.