Yoruba, Nigeria, Benin: A head crest mask of the ‘Gelede’ type, colourfully painted.
Amongst the Yoruba in Nigeria and in the neighbouring state of Benin (formerly Dahomey), there exists a ‘Gelede cult’: it honours women, mothers and fertility in general. In this cult, male dancers dance in pairs in colourful costumes, in annual large-scale processions. They wear these head crest masks, not on the face, but above on the head. The present, typical 'Gelede mask' is carved in lightweight wood. The very flat carved mask head corresponds to the style of the Yoruba people in Benin (called ‘Nago’). The mask is colourfully painted on its exterior with imported lacquer paint: the face is red, the typical tribal scarification marks are coloured black. On the light-coloured head it wears a hairstyle of three braided plaits, each painted black, red and green. On the inside this ‘Gelede’ mask displays a good, old, and shiny usage patina on the right places (lower edge, where the mask rubs on the head of the dancer). Minor age-related damage in the hairstyle (old insect damage). H: 13 cm; L: 28 cm. First half of the 20th century (ME)
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
02.11.2015 - 14:00
- Starting bid:
-
EUR 400.-
Yoruba, Nigeria, Benin: A head crest mask of the ‘Gelede’ type, colourfully painted.
Amongst the Yoruba in Nigeria and in the neighbouring state of Benin (formerly Dahomey), there exists a ‘Gelede cult’: it honours women, mothers and fertility in general. In this cult, male dancers dance in pairs in colourful costumes, in annual large-scale processions. They wear these head crest masks, not on the face, but above on the head. The present, typical 'Gelede mask' is carved in lightweight wood. The very flat carved mask head corresponds to the style of the Yoruba people in Benin (called ‘Nago’). The mask is colourfully painted on its exterior with imported lacquer paint: the face is red, the typical tribal scarification marks are coloured black. On the light-coloured head it wears a hairstyle of three braided plaits, each painted black, red and green. On the inside this ‘Gelede’ mask displays a good, old, and shiny usage patina on the right places (lower edge, where the mask rubs on the head of the dancer). Minor age-related damage in the hairstyle (old insect damage). H: 13 cm; L: 28 cm. First half of the 20th century (ME)
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 |