Bwa Sun Mask (Mwana)

This is a circular hand-carved wooden plank mask, characteristic of the Bwa or Bobo people of Burkina Faso. The mask features a flat, sun-shaped disc with a central face rendered in deep relief. The primary material is a light-colored wood, finished with a textured kaolin-white pigment on the face and bold polychrome decorations in red, black, and blue. The design is highly geometric, featuring a perimeter border of alternating red, blue, and black triangles representing the 'teeth of the leopard' or sun rays. The face includes large, concentric circular eyes (bullseye style), a prominent vertical nose bridge that extends towards the forehead, and a horizontal oval mouth. Small incisions around the mouth likely represent whiskers or scarification marks. There are geometric chevrons carved into the brow area. The condition shows significant surface wear, including some chipping of the wood along the bottom edge, fading and dusting of the pigments, and a visible layer of dust and age patina across the textured face. A small white mounting element is visible at the very top. The craftsmanship suggests it is a mid-20th-century decorative piece or a field-used artifact intended for agricultural or initiatory ceremonies, though the inclusion of vibrant blue pigment may suggest a later production for the export market.

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