Bamikele People, Elephant Mask Costume By Dianna Komminsk
Macy Cook
Dr. Sally Struthers
Art 2430-90
16 April 2017
Museum Paper
The piece I analyzed from the Dayton Art Institute is Bamikele People, Elephant Mask Costume. The acquisition number of this piece is 1999.76. According to the Dayton Art Institute,” this piece was purchased from funds provided by Dianna Komminsk” (“Kuosi Society Costume” 2017). The object was approximately made in the 20th century in a country in central Africa by the name of Cameroon. The large costume worn by the Kuosi people stands at a whole 67 inches. The costume is filled with vivid detail all over to display the wealth and royalty this piece represents. From the top of the piece, it begins with a headdress which has tons of brown and orange feathers sticking out of the top resembling a rare bird. On to the mask of the costume, it …show more content…
The mask simulates a face of a person using orange cut out eye holes, and orange eyes and mouth. Around the face is many little beads sewed to the black cloth to symbolize wealth during this time period because these beads were hard to get at this time. The part of the costume that grabs the viewer’s attention the most is the large circular ears that stick out from the mask. The ears are not proportional to the body which gives the piece animal like characteristics. A brown tunic hangs from the shoulders of the costume all the way to the feet. It is filled with all different kinds of shapes. At the bottom of the tunic is thick orange colored animal fur. In the hand of the costume is a fly whisk that has a strong handle with matching colored geometric shapes and
Dr. Sally Struthers
Art 2430-90
16 April 2017
Museum Paper
The piece I analyzed from the Dayton Art Institute is Bamikele People, Elephant Mask Costume. The acquisition number of this piece is 1999.76. According to the Dayton Art Institute,” this piece was purchased from funds provided by Dianna Komminsk” (“Kuosi Society Costume” 2017). The object was approximately made in the 20th century in a country in central Africa by the name of Cameroon. The large costume worn by the Kuosi people stands at a whole 67 inches. The costume is filled with vivid detail all over to display the wealth and royalty this piece represents. From the top of the piece, it begins with a headdress which has tons of brown and orange feathers sticking out of the top resembling a rare bird. On to the mask of the costume, it …show more content…
The mask simulates a face of a person using orange cut out eye holes, and orange eyes and mouth. Around the face is many little beads sewed to the black cloth to symbolize wealth during this time period because these beads were hard to get at this time. The part of the costume that grabs the viewer’s attention the most is the large circular ears that stick out from the mask. The ears are not proportional to the body which gives the piece animal like characteristics. A brown tunic hangs from the shoulders of the costume all the way to the feet. It is filled with all different kinds of shapes. At the bottom of the tunic is thick orange colored animal fur. In the hand of the costume is a fly whisk that has a strong handle with matching colored geometric shapes and