Cleveland Museum of Art

Heddle Pulley (Bo Nun Amuin mask)

Date

1900s

Medium

Wood, metal, and plant fiber

Culture

Africa, West Africa, Côte d’Ivoire, Baule-style carver

Department

African Art

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The heddle pulley, a working element of a narrow-band loom, bears a miniature sculpture. Heddle pulleys support and separate threads during weaving. Mounted above the weaver, the pulleys allow him to glance up at an object of inspiring beauty, rather than pure functionality. This pulley depicts a face mask, a secular usage of a typically sacred mask type. This heddle pulley depicts a fearsome Bo Nun Amuin mask that recalls nature spirits.

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