Anthropomorphic face mask "ikpobi"
Nigeria, Idoma
not available anymore
Provenance
Patrice Brémond, Nice, FranceSize
H: 31cm
H: 31cm
Description
wood, the facial plane dyed with a thick layer of kaolin, coiffure, tattoos on the temples and facial features accentuated by black paint, min. dam., missing parts at the rim (back), rep., socle;
in former times the “ikpobi” mask type was used on victory celebrations, at dances of the warriors who returned home and presented the heads of the killed enemies as trophies. Nowadays “ikpobi” mask figures appear in pairs of male and female mainly at funeral ceremonies.