Yoruba, Nigeria: A rare face mask of the Yoruba people, belonging to the cult of the god of ancestors, ‘Egungun’.
Yoruba, Nigeria: A rare face mask of the Yoruba people, belonging to the cult of the god of ancestors, ‘Egungun’.
Whilst large-size helmet and pull-on masks, carried on the head, are frequent among the Yoruba in Nigeria (such as those for the cult of mothers, known as ‘Gelede’, and the high ‘Epa masks’ with a variety of figural crests), ‘normal’ smaller masks worn on the face are relatively rare. They are mainly used in the area near the city of Oyo in southwestern Nigeria for the cult of ‘Egungun’, the god of ancestors.
The present mask constitutes a rare type pertaining to the ‘Egungun cult’: Made of wood, with a wide oval face dyed black on the front and white-rimmed eyes. With typical tribal scarification marks on the high forehead and on both cheeks. Under the friendly smile of the openwork mouth is a wide, semicircular beard carved out from the same piece. The beard is pierced on the underside and black animal skin was originally attached to it (a leather strap is still present). An old piece with good shiny patina on the front and excellent traces of usage on the back (inside). Minor age damage (small, old cracks).
First half of the 20th century; H: 27 cm. (ME)
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
26.05.2015 - 15:00
- Estimate:
-
EUR 2,000.- to EUR 2,400.-
Yoruba, Nigeria: A rare face mask of the Yoruba people, belonging to the cult of the god of ancestors, ‘Egungun’.
Whilst large-size helmet and pull-on masks, carried on the head, are frequent among the Yoruba in Nigeria (such as those for the cult of mothers, known as ‘Gelede’, and the high ‘Epa masks’ with a variety of figural crests), ‘normal’ smaller masks worn on the face are relatively rare. They are mainly used in the area near the city of Oyo in southwestern Nigeria for the cult of ‘Egungun’, the god of ancestors.
The present mask constitutes a rare type pertaining to the ‘Egungun cult’: Made of wood, with a wide oval face dyed black on the front and white-rimmed eyes. With typical tribal scarification marks on the high forehead and on both cheeks. Under the friendly smile of the openwork mouth is a wide, semicircular beard carved out from the same piece. The beard is pierced on the underside and black animal skin was originally attached to it (a leather strap is still present). An old piece with good shiny patina on the front and excellent traces of usage on the back (inside). Minor age damage (small, old cracks).
First half of the 20th century; H: 27 cm. (ME)
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
|
Buyers hotline
Mon.-Fri.: 10.00am - 5.00pm
kundendienst@dorotheum.at +43 1 515 60 200 |
| Auction: | Tribal Art |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 26.05.2015 - 15:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 20.05. - 26.05.2015 |