Mask (1) - Wood - Bini - Nigeria

Bini is the name given to the population who live around the old, famous royal city of Benin. The culture, religion and social life of the Bini mainly revolves around their ‘Ekpo cult’, during whose ritual ceremonies mask dances are performed. The masks for these dances have their own style, which clearly distinguishes the Bini from their big neighbors, the Yoruba! The mask presented here is typical of the unique style of the Bini: The strikingly flat, wide face is colored white with kaolin, the raised eyebrows and the thinly slit and only hinted at eyes are accentuated in brown. the small, protruding mouth. With good, old usage patina on the front and back, as well as minor age damage (color abrasion, minimal breakouts) . Provenance: Owen Hargreaves / Tribalspace, London