Head of a Hobbyhorse (korèdugaso)

The Cleveland Museum of Art catalogs Head of a Hobbyhorse (korèdugaso) as sculpture (Africa, West Africa, Mali, Bamana blacksmith · late 1800s–early 1900s).

WHY IT’S INTERESTING

This is one of the best-known examples of a korèdugaso . It was featured on the catalogue cover for a 1935 exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art, one of the first on African arts in the US. It traveled to the CMA that same year.

SERENDIPITYA little unexpected

FamiliarWeird

A CLOSER LOOK

The museum identifies this sculpture as Wood and iron.

The museum's collection notes: Pertaining to the male initiation society called Korè, this sculpture from the Koulikoro region represents the head of an aardvark and is part of a wooden hobbyhorse that is mounted by a ritual buffoon. The Korè initiates are divided into different classes, each having a designated mask. The ritual buffoons appear in pantomimes on different public occasions and poke fun at village authorities and other high-ranking individuals.

FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE

The Cleveland Museum of ArtHead of a Hobbyhorse (korèdugaso)

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