Description:

West Africa, Nigeria, Edo (Bini) people, Ekpo society, ca. early 20th century CE. An evocative hand-carved wood mask presenting a stylized visage and a pair of straight horns, all adorned in white and black pigments. The fine vizard displays downcast, slanted eyes with slits allowing the wearer to see, a flat nose with flared nostrils, and a petite pair of pursed lips, all flanked by 2 high-set ears and spikes that protrude from the cheeks. The horns rise tall above the mask, sprouting from a helmet-form headdress decorated by incised designs of undulating bands and coffee bean motifs. The periphery of the verso is lined with several drill holes, allowing the mask to be strapped to the costume of its wearer. Size: 7.8" W x 15.7" H (19.8 cm x 39.9 cm); 20.8" H (52.8 cm) on included custom stand.

These tall horns are regarded as quite a beautiful element of the Edo aesthetic and "azigho" is a special praise name applied to animals that exhibit this trait. This mask is most likely an azigho mask, a type usually used in the Ekpo cult healing rituals. The Ekpo society oversees the welfare of the village and settles disputes. Ekpo members don masks, raffia costumes, and other accouterments to impersonate their ancestors. The Ekpo society also performs rituals for planting, harvesting (in particular the yam harvest), and funerals.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Rene and Maud Garcia collection, France

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#180828

  • Condition: Chipping with losses to peripheries, nicks, abrasions, and old inactive insect holes throughout. Otherwise, intact with nice remaining pigments and rich patina to surface.

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October 26, 2023 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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