Ibibio, Nigeria: A small, black mask with flat border, probably depicting the good spirit ‘Mfon’.
Ibibio, Nigeria: A small, black mask with flat border, probably depicting the good spirit ‘Mfon’.
The Ibibio live in southern Nigeria, to the east of the Niger Delta. The rich mask characters of their Ekpo society mainly show two groups: masks of evil spirits, known as ‘Idiok’, and masks which represent the good spirits from paradise, known as ‘Mfon’. The present Ibibio mask probably depicts a good spirit ‘Mfon’. It is made of lightweight wood and coloured black. With a charming protruding mouth, wide nose and typical tribal scarification marks on both temples and across both cheeks. The mask wears a sort of round bonnet and a flat, five-pierced border for attaching the mask costume. A piece with good, encrusted and partly shiny usage patina (especially on the back) and with only minor age damage (each a small fracture on forehead and bonnet). H: 20 cm, W: 13 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)
Provenance: Hungarian Private Collection.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
02.11.2015 - 14:00
- Starting bid:
-
EUR 600.-
Ibibio, Nigeria: A small, black mask with flat border, probably depicting the good spirit ‘Mfon’.
The Ibibio live in southern Nigeria, to the east of the Niger Delta. The rich mask characters of their Ekpo society mainly show two groups: masks of evil spirits, known as ‘Idiok’, and masks which represent the good spirits from paradise, known as ‘Mfon’. The present Ibibio mask probably depicts a good spirit ‘Mfon’. It is made of lightweight wood and coloured black. With a charming protruding mouth, wide nose and typical tribal scarification marks on both temples and across both cheeks. The mask wears a sort of round bonnet and a flat, five-pierced border for attaching the mask costume. A piece with good, encrusted and partly shiny usage patina (especially on the back) and with only minor age damage (each a small fracture on forehead and bonnet). H: 20 cm, W: 13 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)
Provenance: Hungarian 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: | 02.11.2015 - 14:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 28.10. - 02.11.2015 |