Ibo (or Igbo), Nigeria: A rare helmet mask of the ‘Queen of women’ type.
This mask type belongs to the complex of the Mmwo masks of the Ibo, with their white coloured faces. The famous 'classic' Mmwo masks, with their high, openwork comb hairstyle, depict a ‘beautiful girl, who comes from the afterlife’ (siehe cat. no. 65). Unlike these, the mask of the ‘Queen of women’ type, in which a small figure (a child) always ‘rides’ the back of its head, represents a venerated older woman. On the occasion of the annual, theatrical Okperegede mask dances of the Ibo-Izzi, in the northeastern area of the Ibo territory, these ‘Queen of women’ masks play an important role. The present ‘Queen of women’ is carved in light-coloured, lightweight wood. Coloured black and white (traces of red on the crest). With good, partly encrusted patina on the outside as well as on the inside, with minor age damage (small pieces broken off on the back rim). First half of the 20th century; H: c. 50 cm, W: 29 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Private collection, Poland.
Literature: 'Igbo Arts' by Cole & Aniakor, ill. 259, 261.
Esperto: Prof. Erwin Melchardt
Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
24.03.2014 - 16:00
- Stima:
-
EUR 2.000,- a EUR 3.000,-
Ibo (or Igbo), Nigeria: A rare helmet mask of the ‘Queen of women’ type.
This mask type belongs to the complex of the Mmwo masks of the Ibo, with their white coloured faces. The famous 'classic' Mmwo masks, with their high, openwork comb hairstyle, depict a ‘beautiful girl, who comes from the afterlife’ (siehe cat. no. 65). Unlike these, the mask of the ‘Queen of women’ type, in which a small figure (a child) always ‘rides’ the back of its head, represents a venerated older woman. On the occasion of the annual, theatrical Okperegede mask dances of the Ibo-Izzi, in the northeastern area of the Ibo territory, these ‘Queen of women’ masks play an important role. The present ‘Queen of women’ is carved in light-coloured, lightweight wood. Coloured black and white (traces of red on the crest). With good, partly encrusted patina on the outside as well as on the inside, with minor age damage (small pieces broken off on the back rim). First half of the 20th century; H: c. 50 cm, W: 29 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Private collection, Poland.
Literature: 'Igbo Arts' by Cole & Aniakor, ill. 259, 261.
Esperto: Prof. Erwin Melchardt
Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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Hotline dell'acquirente
lun-ven: 10.00 - 17.00
kundendienst@dorotheum.at +43 1 515 60 200 |
| Asta: | Tribal Art |
| Tipo d'asta: | Asta in sala |
| Data: | 24.03.2014 - 16:00 |
| Luogo dell'asta: | Wien | Palais Dorotheum |
| Esposizione: | 18.03. - 24.03.2014 |