Mbembe, Nigeria: Very old dance crest in the form of a head. Rare!
A large, old dance crest of the Mbembe, in southeastern Nigeria, near the Cross River, on the border of Cameroon. They are neighbours of the Ibo and Ekoi, who use similar dance crests. Masks such as the present one are worn on the head during dances.
Carved from very hard, heavy wood. The face is characterised by high eyebrow arches, coffee bean eyes, a short nose, an open mouth and the typical scarification marks of the Mbembe, running diagonally across the cheeks. Pierced all around the neck and mounted on a ‘cap’ made of braided rattan stripes.
A very old object with brown shiny patina, age-related traces of abrasion and tears (to the back). Rare!
19th century/beginning of the 20th century or earlier; H: 32 cm (in total). (ME)
Provenance: Austrian Collection.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
26.05.2015 - 15:00
- Estimate:
-
EUR 1,600.- to EUR 2,000.-
Mbembe, Nigeria: Very old dance crest in the form of a head. Rare!
A large, old dance crest of the Mbembe, in southeastern Nigeria, near the Cross River, on the border of Cameroon. They are neighbours of the Ibo and Ekoi, who use similar dance crests. Masks such as the present one are worn on the head during dances.
Carved from very hard, heavy wood. The face is characterised by high eyebrow arches, coffee bean eyes, a short nose, an open mouth and the typical scarification marks of the Mbembe, running diagonally across the cheeks. Pierced all around the neck and mounted on a ‘cap’ made of braided rattan stripes.
A very old object with brown shiny patina, age-related traces of abrasion and tears (to the back). Rare!
19th century/beginning of the 20th century or earlier; H: 32 cm (in total). (ME)
Provenance: Austrian 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: | 26.05.2015 - 15:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 20.05. - 26.05.2015 |