A hand-carved Mali bull mask with repoussé metalwork — a powerful example of West African zoomorphic art that pairs wood carving with the hand-hammered metalwork the region's blacksmiths are known for.
Among the Bamana people, the bull is a revered symbol of strength, fertility and agricultural vitality. Carved from dense, dark indigenous wood, the mask has a long, powerful snout and upright horns, with a rich aged patina. The face is clad in hand-hammered repoussé metal worked with geometric patterns and stippled texture that catches the light, the small diamond-shaped eyes and carved detailing along the nose adding to its presence.
