Crest Mask (Zamble)

Label TextThis mask enables an impossible union to be formed between a hunter and prey. The jaws of a leopard with serrated teeth open downward in counterbalance to the elegant curve of an antelope's horns. A fantastic mythological creature, Zamble dances with alternating movements of a bold, crouching leopard and the gait of a graceful antelope. Dancers display their talent with this unlikely pairing, and appear to assist families through difficult times such as illness or the death of a relative.

Object number51.48

ProvenancePurchased from Altman Antiques; Eugene Fuller Memorial Collection, 1951

Credit LineEugene Fuller Memorial Collection

Dimensions14 15/16 x 5 3/8 x 4 3/4 in. (38 x 13.7 x 12 cm)

MediumWood and raffia with polychrome