Anthropomorphic mask
Nigeria, Idoma
not available anymore
Provenance
Milton & Shirley Glaser, New York/Woodstock, USASize
H: 22 cm
H: 8.7 inch
Description
wood, facial plane whitened with kaolin, black colour accents, coiffure with three horn-like projections on the forehead, inserted wooden teeth, raised scarification marks, drilled holes around the rim with fabric border, slightly dam., abrasion of paint, rep. (two of the horn-like projections broken), base;
a very comparable object can be found in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.
Masks whitened with kaolin are common features of Idoma art. They are used in establishing a link with the afterlife and the spirit world. It appears these masks were used during funerals.