Description:

**Originally Listed At $500**

West Africa, Nigeria, Yoruba peoples, ca. early to mid 20th century CE. An intriguing example of a helmet mask with a dramatic visage composed of bulbous eyes adorned with black and silver pigment, a bulbous nose, a row of conical fangs, a crescent-shaped goatee, and large scarification marks across the cheeks. The wide forehead is topped with a plaited coiffure with a large pony tail, and a pair of silver-painted shell-form ornaments flank either side of a green triangular finial with a small drilled hole. The wide neck rests atop a flared base which is adorned with several perforated holes meant for attaching a larger costume. This type of headdress, the Egungun, is meant to embody the fore of the ancestors and is worn during a joyful ceremony in celebration of the dead. Size: 12.75" W x 14.8" H (32.4 cm x 37.6 cm); 16.2" H (41.1 cm) on included custom stand.

Provenance: private Los Angeles, California, USA collection

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#145782

  • Condition: Small losses and a few stable hairline fissures to base, with abrasions and light fading to original pigmentation, and light insect damage. Nice earthen deposits throughout.

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January 7, 2020 8:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000