Description:

Western Africa, Nigeria, Yoruba peoples, ca. mid 20th century CE. A wonderful example of one of the most distinctive forms of West African masks, this Gelede helmet mask is made to be worn by men and to portray a range of male and female characters. This mask displays a face topped by a rounded coiffure accentuated by three plaited braids and a tubular knob in the center. Kaolin imbues the mask with the chalky-white color, and brilliant indigo pigment rings the popping eyes, fills in the incised scarification marks on the cheeks, and, most strikingly, covers the hair; bright red pigmentation also adorns the hair and lips. The edges are ringed with perforations onto which a wider textile costume could be sewn. The Gelede is a celebration of the power of women - spirits, ancestors, and older women of the community - that incorporates art and masked dance in a colorful, lively spectacle. Size: 8.25" W x 12.5" H (21 cm x 31.8 cm).

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

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#130719

  • Condition: Age-commensurate surface wear, light fading to some areas of pigmentation, small chips and nicks to ears, braids, and peripheries, with some small hairline fissures around 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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