The Idoma live in the territory between the Niger, Benue and Cross Rivers in southeastern Nigeria. To the north of the significantly more numerous Ibo (or Igbo), who influenced the art of the Idoma.
The present mask is carved of very lightweight, light-coloured wood and displays foundation colours of white and black, as do many Ibo masks. In the details, however, the noticeable difference between Ibo and Idoma style can be seen: the extreme, ‘laughing’ mouth with both rows of teeth carved out from the same piece, the round, somewhat protruding ears, the wide nose and the scarification marks, very differently arranged, on the face, on the forehead, above the outlined, small, slit eyes, on both cheeks and especially the two thick, semicircular and black-dyed ‘batteries’ of decorative scarification marks beneath the temples. This is typical for the Idoma and is not present in Ibo works. An interesting, rare piece, with a minimal loss on the upper lip, with colour scuffing due to age on the white kaolin surfaces and slightly encrusted shiny patina on the black-dyed hairstyle above, and on the decorative scarification marks. There is also good, old usage patina at the back, on the inside.
Height: 21.3 cm; width: 14 cm.
First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance:
Austrian private collection.

Lit.:
‘The Arts of the Benue. To the roots of tradition’ by Francois Neyt and Andrée Désirant, ill. III.69, III.70, III.71, III.72, III.73, III.80 etc.