Big headdress "sukuru" ("old woman")

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Description

wood, brown patina, remains of black paint, kaolin and red pigment, prominent circular eyes, massive lobes, incised tattoos, drilled holes, slightly dam., minor missing parts, cracks, traces of old age and weathering, abrasion of paint, metal base;
these ceremonial masks are often referred to as “shoulder masks” (“yoke”), although most of them were not carried on the shoulder but on the head, especially the smaller examples. The front was pierced in that case to enable the dancer to see. The larger ones were carried by several men, the lower part of these masks were covered with raffia and/or textiles to disguise these men. Formerly these masks would be taken out in times of war, but nowadays they are only seen at a biannual ceremony, the “ushavuko”. They are also sometimes used in certain rainmaking rites and in healing ceremonies.

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Comparing literature

Lebas, Alain (ed.), Arts of Nigeria in French Private Collections, Milan 2012, p. 284, ill. 162

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Publications

AHDRC: 0098413

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