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Bolo masks are primarily danced for entertainment during communal occasions like funerals, male initiations, and harvest celebrations. Comprising both animal and human features, the mask––always worn by a male dancer––refers to the cultural significance of the ram, an animal associated with male aggression across sub-Saharan Africa.

Page data

Page
1
Source index
0
Type
photo
Media ID
70c3bd308860806b
Size
unknown

Document data

ID
286706
Core
obj
Type
object
DTO data
{
    "id": "286706",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Ram Mask (Bolo)",
    "description": "Bolo masks are primarily danced for entertainment during communal occasions like funerals, male initiations, and harvest celebrations. Comprising both animal and human features, the mask––always worn by a male dancer––refers to the cultural significance of the ram, an animal associated with male aggression across sub-Saharan Africa.",
    "date": "possibly early 1900s",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/2016.56",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Mask"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.56/2016.56_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.56/2016.56_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.56/2016.56_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 45 x 36 x 36 cm (17 11/16 x 14 3/16 x 14 3/16 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Africa, West Africa, Burkina Faso, Bobo-style blacksmith-carver"
    ],
    "accession": "2016.56"
}

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Document identity
{
    "localId": "286706",
    "label": "Ram Mask (Bolo)",
    "core": "obj",
    "dtoType": "object"
}
Document source metadata
{
    "id": "286706",
    "contentType": "object",
    "title": "Ram Mask (Bolo)",
    "description": "Bolo masks are primarily danced for entertainment during communal occasions like funerals, male initiations, and harvest celebrations. Comprising both animal and human features, the mask––always worn by a male dancer––refers to the cultural significance of the ram, an animal associated with male aggression across sub-Saharan Africa.",
    "date": "possibly early 1900s",
    "citation": "https://clevelandart.org/art/2016.56",
    "rights": "CC0",
    "rightsUri": "CC0",
    "language": "en",
    "genreSpecific": [
        "Mask"
    ],
    "iiifBase": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.56/2016.56_web.jpg",
    "thumbnailUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.56/2016.56_web.jpg",
    "largeImageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.56/2016.56_web.jpg",
    "imageCount": 1,
    "source": "import",
    "dimensionsRaw": "Overall: 45 x 36 x 36 cm (17 11/16 x 14 3/16 x 14 3/16 in.)",
    "cul": [
        "Africa, West Africa, Burkina Faso, Bobo-style blacksmith-carver"
    ],
    "accession": "2016.56"
}
Document source extras
{
    "tec": "Wood and paint",
    "tombstone": "Ram Mask (Bolo), possibly early 1900s. Africa, West Africa, Burkina Faso, Bobo-style blacksmith-carver. Wood and paint; overall: 45 x 36 x 36 cm (17 11/16 x 14 3/16 x 14 3/16 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, René and Odette Delenne Collection, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund, 2016.56",
    "collection": "African Art",
    "didYouKnow": "The mask was vividly painted while in use. Look closely at its surface to see traces of blue, red, and white paint.",
    "citations": [
        {
            "citation": "Maesen, Alebert, et al. <em>Art d’Afrique dans les collections belges</em>, cat. 21. Exh. Cat. Tervuren: Royal Museum for Central Africa, June 29-October 30, 1963.",
            "page_number": "cat. 21"
        },
        {
            "citation": "Leuzinger, Elsy. <em>Die Kunst von Schwarz-Afrika</em>, cat. C6. Exh. Cat. Recklinghausen: Verlag Aurel Bongers, in association with Kunsthaus Zürich, October 31, 1970-February 10, 1971.",
            "page_number": "cat. C6"
        }
    ],
    "url": "https://clevelandart.org/art/2016.56",
    "creditline": "René and Odette Delenne Collection, Leonard C. Hanna Jr. Fund",
    "sketchfabId": "edfcda0e03504bd186ad650b9ea39566",
    "sketchfabUrl": "https://sketchfab.com/models/edfcda0e03504bd186ad650b9ea39566",
    "updatedAt": "2026-06-18 21:15:56.281000",
    "imageUrl": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.56/2016.56_print.jpg",
    "sourceId": 286706,
    "dept": "African Art",
    "coll": "African Art",
    "med": "Wood and paint",
    "thumbnail_url": null,
    "image_url": null
}
Page context
{
    "seq": 1,
    "pageIndex": 0,
    "type": "photo",
    "url": "https://openaccess-cdn.clevelandart.org/2016.56/2016.56_web.jpg",
    "mediaId": "70c3bd308860806b"
}