Ibo (or Igbo), Nigeria: a long, oval face mask of the Ibo, representing a ‘beautiful girl’ who comes from the afterlife and visits the living.
Ibo (or Igbo), Nigeria: a long, oval face mask of the Ibo, representing a ‘beautiful girl’ who comes from the afterlife and visits the living.
The present Ibo mask, from south-east Nigeria, is carved in lightweight, light-coloured wood, and is dyed white, black and reddish-brown. The basic form of this mask is a pointed oval. The hairstyle part at the top is even cut, with a hole for the attachment of additional ornament (feathers?). The vertical, black relief line running along the white forehead and the long, narrow nose is continuous. The deep-set, outlined eyes are slit. Starting from the eyes, there are symmetrical, arched and black-dyed pointed areas, typical for this mask type, two above and two below each eye. These characteristically curved pointed areas, carved in raised relief and additionally decorated with three pointed-oval cavities each, surround on both sides typical, semicircular Ibo ears. The mouth, with its full lips dyed reddish-brown, is protruding and closed. The inner surface of this Ibo face mask is dyed completely reddish-brown. A very fine and precisely executed object, with colour scuffing due to age on the front side and good, partially shiny patina on the front and on the back. There is no noteworthy damage.
Height: 32.5 cm; width: 16.2 cm.
First half to mid-20th century. (ME)
Provenance:
Austrian private collection.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
20.02.2017 - 14:00
- Realized price: **
-
EUR 1,625.-
- Starting bid:
-
EUR 800.-
Ibo (or Igbo), Nigeria: a long, oval face mask of the Ibo, representing a ‘beautiful girl’ who comes from the afterlife and visits the living.
The present Ibo mask, from south-east Nigeria, is carved in lightweight, light-coloured wood, and is dyed white, black and reddish-brown. The basic form of this mask is a pointed oval. The hairstyle part at the top is even cut, with a hole for the attachment of additional ornament (feathers?). The vertical, black relief line running along the white forehead and the long, narrow nose is continuous. The deep-set, outlined eyes are slit. Starting from the eyes, there are symmetrical, arched and black-dyed pointed areas, typical for this mask type, two above and two below each eye. These characteristically curved pointed areas, carved in raised relief and additionally decorated with three pointed-oval cavities each, surround on both sides typical, semicircular Ibo ears. The mouth, with its full lips dyed reddish-brown, is protruding and closed. The inner surface of this Ibo face mask is dyed completely reddish-brown. A very fine and precisely executed object, with colour scuffing due to age on the front side and good, partially shiny patina on the front and on the back. There is no noteworthy damage.
Height: 32.5 cm; width: 16.2 cm.
First half to mid-20th century. (ME)
Provenance:
Austrian private collection.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Auction: | Tribal Art |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 20.02.2017 - 14:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 11.02. - 20.02.2017 |
** Purchase price incl. buyer's premium and VAT
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