Description:

Western Africa, Nigeria, Igbo peoples, ca. mid 20th century CE. A beautiful example of a maiden spirit mask carved with a visage intended to represent the ideal of female beauty, with serene facial features, scarification marks, and a large, black-painted coiffure. Kaolin pigment provides for the traditional chalky-white face, and black adornments outline the eye brows, ears, nose, and mouth. White-painted "Agbohbho mmwo" (or maiden spirit) masks are traditionally worn by adult males in festivals that pay homage to significant deities. In addition to the masks, the performers don tight-fitting and brightly-hued costumes as they perform somewhat exaggerated and amplified versions of traditional female dances, all the while imitating the gestures and characters of adolescent girls. Mounted inside verso for display. Size: 11.25" H (28.6 cm).

Provenance: ex-Adeon Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, USA acquired prior to 1970

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#130725

  • Condition: Age-commensurate surface wear, one large stable fissure on one side of head, and light inactive insect damage. Fading to pigmentation, small chips to facial features, coiffure, and peripheries, otherwise intact and very good.

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March 1, 2018 7:00 AM MST
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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