Early 20th C. African Igbo Polychrome Wood Helmet Mask
West Africa, Nigeria, Igbo peoples, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A wonderful carved-wood helmet mask, known as an agbohbho mmwo or maiden's mask, with a cheerful guise painted in a chalky-white hue symbolic of one who dwells in the realm of the spirits and additionally embellished by pigments of red and black. Representing idealized youthful beauty, the vizard presents the stylized features of slit-form eyes surrounded by an abstract design, semi-circular ears, a slender, straight nose, and a large smile displaying 2 rows of square teeth. The coiffure is skillfully incised with decorative motifs of concentric circles and parallel striations, while an openwork arch rises from the center as a type of crest flanked by a pair of smaller ornamental arches on each side of the head. A series of petite drill holes line the mask's periphery, allowing it to be strapped to a costume and worn. Size: 11.5" L x 8.5" W x 19.75" H (29.2 cm x 21.6 cm x 50.2 cm)
The Igbo are best known for these Maiden Spirit masks which are danced by men at agricultural festivals as well as funerals of important members of the village, intended to capture the purity, youth, grace, and beauty of deceased maidens. These men who dance the agbohbho mmwo masks also traditionally wear colorful fiber costumes to entertain with performances featuring exaggerated versions of traditional women's dances.
Provenance: ex-Stein collection, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA, acquired prior to 2010
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#164793
Condition Report: Stable hairline fissure to proper right arch. A few small nicks and chips, as well as lightly abraded areas, commensurate with age and use. Otherwise, excellent with impressive remaining pigments and incised details.
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West Africa, Nigeria, Igbo peoples, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A wonderful carved-wood helmet mask, known as an agbohbho mmwo or maiden's mask, with a cheerful guise painted in a chalky-white hue symbolic of one who dwells in the realm of the spirits and additionally embellished by pigments of red and black. Representing idealized youthful beauty, the vizard presents the stylized features of slit-form eyes surrounded by an abstract design, semi-circular ears, a slender, straight nose, and a large smile displaying 2 rows of square teeth. The coiffure is skillfully incised with decorative motifs of concentric circles and parallel striations, while an openwork arch rises from the center as a type of crest flanked by a pair of smaller ornamental arches on each side of the head. A series of petite drill holes line the mask's periphery, allowing it to be strapped to a costume and worn. Size: 11.5" L x 8.5" W x 19.75" H (29.2 cm x 21.6 cm x 50.2 cm)
The Igbo are best known for these Maiden Spirit masks which are danced by men at agricultural festivals as well as funerals of important members of the village, intended to capture the purity, youth, grace, and beauty of deceased maidens. These men who dance the agbohbho mmwo masks also traditionally wear colorful fiber costumes to entertain with performances featuring exaggerated versions of traditional women's dances.
Provenance: ex-Stein collection, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA, acquired prior to 2010
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide to most countries and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#164793
Condition Report: Stable hairline fissure to proper right arch. A few small nicks and chips, as well as lightly abraded areas, commensurate with age and use. Otherwise, excellent with impressive remaining pigments and incised details.
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Time, Location
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