Such face masks of the Ibo, from south-eastern Nigeria, are a smaller variation of the large helmet masks ‘agbogho mmwo’, with their tall crests carved out from the same piece (cat. no. 78). They also represent the same thing: a ‘beautiful girl’ who comes from the afterlife to living men. Just like the large ‘agbogho mmwo’ masks, these, too, are ‘danced’ by young men in tight, colourful costumes during harvest festivals and at ceremonies in honour of ancestors, women and the earth gods.
The present, elongated oval Ibo face mask is made of light-coloured, lightweight wood and coloured white (by means of kaolin) and black on its front side. The black decoration of the mask is carefully executed in relief. It has round, enframed eyes, a small hair element above, with a hole for inserted ornaments (feathers?). From the black hairstyle, a central, vertical, notched line runs over the high, white forehead down to the long, narrow nasal bridge. The lips of the open mouth, with its two rows of teeth, are also dyed black. Characteristic for these smaller Ibo face masks of ‘beautiful girls’ are their dominant, black decorative details of curved points and spikes, always symmetrically arranged.
A typical example of this mask type, with small, age-related breaks and losses to the left side, on the upper the front, and to the back rim, on the upper right. Also visible in the aforementioned area is a small crack with original repair (glued). Otherwise, no noteworthy damage. With partially shiny, old patina on the front, especially on the black surfaces, as well as with a good usage patina on the back, on the inside.
Height: 28.5 cm; width: c. 16 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance: Austrian private collection.

Lit.: ‘Igbo’ by Herbert M. Cole, ill. 35; ‘Igbo Arts. Community and Cosmos’ by H. M. Cole & Ch. C. Aniakor, ill. 228, 229, 230.