Helmet (Sigi Kun)

Bamana Mali Northern Africa and the Sahel →

bamanaArts of AfricaNorthern Africa and the Sahelmalinkehelmetarts of Africa

Date

Mid-19th to mid-20th century

Medium

Wood and pigment

Dimensions

69.3 × 72.8 × 24.2 cm (27 1/4 × 28 5/8 × 9 1/2 in.)

Museum

Art Institute of Chicago

Location

Chicago, IL

Credit

African and Amerindian Curator's Discretionary Fund; through prior purchased with funds provided by of the Alsdorf Fund; through prior gift of Mrs. Ernest B. Zeisler; through prior purchased with funds provided by of the American Hospital Supply Corp.; through prior gift of the Britt Family Collection, Gwendolyn Miller and Herbert Baker; through prior purchased with funds provided by of the Alsdorf Foundation; African and Amerindian Art Purchase Fund; through prior gift of Deborah Stokes and Jeffrey Hammer in honor of Milton Gross; through prior gift of Muriel Kallis Newman; through prior bequest of Florene May Schoenborn

The style and incised surface designs of the standing female figure at the center of this helmet suggest that it was made by a Bamana artist. Echoing those of buffalo, the framing horns fit within a visual theme that is widespread in West Africa, referencing ideas of male power, authority, and prestige. Among the Bamana and other Mande-language speakers, such helmets were called sigi kun (buffalo head) and used by hunters’ associations.

Also notable

Works in the same vein

Pair of Headdresses (Tyi Wara Kunw)

Bamana Baninko region, Mali Northern Africa and the Sahel

Zoomorphic Figure (Boli)

Bamana Mali Northern Africa and the Sahel

Male Face Mask (N'tomo)

Bamana Segou region, Mali Northern Africa and the Sahel

Helmet Mask (Kono Kun)

Bamana Mali Northern Africa and the Sahel