Anthropomorphic dance crest ·  Nigeria, Idoma · ID: 3035016

Description

wood, encrusted brown patina, kaolin, traces of red paint (both extremely darkened), eyes with glass inlay, single teeth of wooden splinters, elaborate coiffure of horn-shaped lobes and bulges above the forehead, slightly dam., minor missing parts (nose, mouth, ears, left lobe), crack (left face half), paint rubbed off, drilled ear hole left hand side broken out, socle;
probably belonging to the “ogrinya” society. Membership was only allowed to men who already killed an elephant, a lion or a human. It’s not clear up to nowadays in how far such dance crests go back to head hunting traditions. But fact is, that most of the ethnical groups in this area in former times captured enemy skulls for ritual purposes. The crests were worn at funeral ceremonies or harvest festivities.