Yoruba, Nigeria, Ekiti region: A rare face mask of the ‘Olojufoforo’ type, with Eshu crest.
Yoruba, Nigeria, Ekiti region: A rare face mask of the ‘Olojufoforo’ type, with Eshu crest.
A rare face mask (since helmet and pull-on masks are more frequent among the Yoruba) from the northeastern Yoruba region of Ekiti, used during feasts and processions in honour of important ancestors.
Made of light-coloured wood. The relatively small, oval mask face has deep-set, rectangular eyes and a prominent shot nose. A button of fibre cords in the mouth and a handle on the chin help the dancer to secure the mask.
The crest figure carved out from the same piece of wood depicts the god ‘Eshu’, a so-called ‘trickster’ deity, who needs to be appeased as he may do good as well as evil. Eshu features his typical, long plaited coiffure and beard, and holds a short sword and a fly whisk.
Overall an impressive, very old example of an ‘Olojufoforo mask’, with thick, encrusted, red sacrificial patina of powdered redwood and old usage patina (inside the mask). A smaller fracture to the crest of the hairstyle, mended with two metal braces. Otherwise in perfect condition!
Between c. 1900 and the first third of the 20th century; H: 64 cm. Provenance: Collection of Prof. Rudolf Leopold, Vienna. (ME)
Lit.: 'Yoruba. Nine Centuries of Art and Thought' by Henry J. Drewal & John Pemberton III, fig. 218.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
26.05.2015 - 15:00
- Realized price: **
-
EUR 1,750.-
- Estimate:
-
EUR 1,600.- to EUR 2,000.-
Yoruba, Nigeria, Ekiti region: A rare face mask of the ‘Olojufoforo’ type, with Eshu crest.
A rare face mask (since helmet and pull-on masks are more frequent among the Yoruba) from the northeastern Yoruba region of Ekiti, used during feasts and processions in honour of important ancestors.
Made of light-coloured wood. The relatively small, oval mask face has deep-set, rectangular eyes and a prominent shot nose. A button of fibre cords in the mouth and a handle on the chin help the dancer to secure the mask.
The crest figure carved out from the same piece of wood depicts the god ‘Eshu’, a so-called ‘trickster’ deity, who needs to be appeased as he may do good as well as evil. Eshu features his typical, long plaited coiffure and beard, and holds a short sword and a fly whisk.
Overall an impressive, very old example of an ‘Olojufoforo mask’, with thick, encrusted, red sacrificial patina of powdered redwood and old usage patina (inside the mask). A smaller fracture to the crest of the hairstyle, mended with two metal braces. Otherwise in perfect condition!
Between c. 1900 and the first third of the 20th century; H: 64 cm. Provenance: Collection of Prof. Rudolf Leopold, Vienna. (ME)
Lit.: 'Yoruba. Nine Centuries of Art and Thought' by Henry J. Drewal & John Pemberton III, fig. 218.
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 |
** Purchase price incl. buyer's premium and VAT
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