Yoruba, Nigeria: A head crest mask for dances in honour of ‘Egungun’, the god of ancestors.
Yoruba, Nigeria: A head crest mask for dances in honour of ‘Egungun’, the god of ancestors.
'Egungun', the god of ancestors, is depicted in different ways by the Yoruba carvers: either with a long lateral plait, two big ears (see cat. no. 56), or - as is the case of the present, rare local variant - with a round head and a peculiar hairstyle in the shape of a handle turned to the back. The present 'Egungun dance crest' belongs to this latter group: carved in brown wood, dyed blue and black, with accentuated large eyes, white-rimmed. Also accentuated in white by means of kaolin are its typical tribal scarification marks on the cheeks. An old piece with visible usage patina, with remains (nails) from the attachment of the large polychrome mask costume, as well as age-related damage (a tear to the right side on the back). First half of the 20th century; H: 28 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Kegel-Konietzko Collection, Hamburg; Hans Petereit, Cologne; Austrian private collection.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
24.03.2014 - 16:00
- Estimate:
-
EUR 6,000.- to EUR 7,000.-
Yoruba, Nigeria: A head crest mask for dances in honour of ‘Egungun’, the god of ancestors.
'Egungun', the god of ancestors, is depicted in different ways by the Yoruba carvers: either with a long lateral plait, two big ears (see cat. no. 56), or - as is the case of the present, rare local variant - with a round head and a peculiar hairstyle in the shape of a handle turned to the back. The present 'Egungun dance crest' belongs to this latter group: carved in brown wood, dyed blue and black, with accentuated large eyes, white-rimmed. Also accentuated in white by means of kaolin are its typical tribal scarification marks on the cheeks. An old piece with visible usage patina, with remains (nails) from the attachment of the large polychrome mask costume, as well as age-related damage (a tear to the right side on the back). First half of the 20th century; H: 28 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Kegel-Konietzko Collection, Hamburg; Hans Petereit, Cologne; Austrian 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: | 24.03.2014 - 16:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 18.03. - 24.03.2014 |