Weaving Loom Pulley Surmounted by a Bush-Cow Mask

late 19th–early 20th century

On view, 1st floor, African Art

A crucial element of a weaver’s loom, pulleys serve as a support for the heddles (small cords or wires) that are alternatively raised and lowered by a weaver to control his warp thread. Among the Baule and their neighbors, pulleys such as this one are subject to intense artistic focus. The spiritual dimension of the weaving process is emphasized by the inclusion of the masquerade figure with his hands on his stomach wearing a removable goli glin mask, a symbol of the wild forces of the forest. Through his art, a weaver draws upon these forces and brings them into order, just as he transforms cotton into cloth.

Medium: Wood
Dimensions: 5 1/4 in. (13.34 cm)
with base: 6 1/2 × 3 × 1 7/8 in. (16.51 × 7.62 × 4.76 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Robert Liebowitz
Accession Number: 2011.237.1
Geography: Burkina Faso, or Mali, or Côte d'Ivoire
Culture: Senufo
Period: 19th–20th century
Classification: Tools and Equipment
Disclaimer: Note: This electronic record was created from historic documentation that does not necessarily reflect the Yale University Art Gallery’s complete or current knowledge about the object. Review and updating of records is ongoing.

Provenance

Ben Heller Collection. Gift of Robert Liebowitz to Yale University Art Gallery in 2011

Bibliography

"Acquisitions," Yale University Art Gallery Bulletin: Online Supplement (accessed December 21, 2012), 4, ill

Object copyright

Additional information

Object/Work type

heddle pulleys, pulleys

Subject

cows (mammals) masks (costume)

Technical metadata and APIs

IIIF: Open in Mirador

View IIIF manifest

The International Image Interoperability Framework, or IIIF, is an open standard for delivering high-quality, attributed digital objects online at scale. Visit iiif.io to learn more
Linked Art: API response for this object

Linked Art is a Community working together to create a shared Model based on Linked Open Data to describe Art.