This item is part of the Johnston/Young Collection. It is featured in "Afrika Traditional and Modern African Art." The Bambara people, also called the Bamana, are from Mali in northwest Africa. The Bambara carvers are responsible for the well-known Tji-Wara headdress that is worn by members of the Tji-Wara society. At planting time a pair of the best male farmers are designated to dance with headdresses like these to honor Tji-Wara the diety that taught agriculture to the ancestors of the Bambara. The headdress is attached to a woven basket and balanced upon the dancers' head. From the basket hang blackened strips of fiber from the Da plant that have been dipped in mud. These strips hang about four or five feet down around the dancer, hiding his identity. The fibers are meant to denote water. They dance in pairs, the female following the male. To the Bamana the earth is female, note the baby on her back and she represents fertility. The cultivation of the earth or soil has erotic symbolism of the Bamana when the hoe penetrates the soil. The dancers must dance bent over, each leaning on a pair of sticks that represent the front legs of an antelope. To the Bambara the antelope is the perfect animal, graceful yet strong. The headdresses come in many variations but have similar components. The pair on display is well aged and has been embellished with brass plating for futher glorification. The plating is tarnished and greening form use and exposure. Our antelope Tji-wara represents classic styling whereas the male and female figures are separated. Others combine the two into one figure and others still are composed of different animals such as the aardvard and pangolin. Our selection is over 55 years old and comes complete with two wooden bases. We are very pleased to be able to offer such a wonderful pair! Please click photo for enlargement. See actual dancer and additional photos below. Sold. When OFFLINE click button to leave a message! Dimensions: Male - 49 inches tall x 22 inches deep x 5 inches wide. Female - 45 inches tall x 13 inches deep x 5 1/2 inches wide. Wt: Special shipping will apply **For a complete inventory listing please go to the 'Index' section on the Navigation Bar to your right** Item J/Y3 Tji-Wara DancerPlease click photo for enlargement! Female and babyPlease click photo for enlargement. FemalePlease click photo for enlargement! Close upPlease click photo for enlargement! BasePlease click photo for enlargement! Female and baby sideMinor erosion appears on the tail ends. This is natural deteriation due to exposure. This in no way detracts from the beauty or value of the piece. Please click photo for enlargement! MalePlease click photo for enlargement! MalePlease click photo for enlargement! MalePlease click photo for enlargement! Male basePlease click photo for enlargement! FrontPlease click photo for enlargement! "Afrika"Please click photo for enlargement! Table of ContentsPlease click photo for enlargement! Page 59The Tji Wara is featured on page 59 of the book. Please click photo for enlargement! The WarehousePlease click here for new arrivals. The Curators GalleryPlease click here for exclusive high grade selections.