Bush cow mask ·  Nigeria, Mumuye · ID: 3043136

Description

wood, kaolin, red pigment, of typical massive form, carved with a big snout, forehead crest and strong horns, min. dam., missing parts (horn tips), fine cracks, paint rubbed off, base.
Secret societies in groups all along the Benue employ horizontal masks representing bush cows and other animals. The general concept of the mask seems to be to place powerful and aggressive bush creatures at the service of human society and to provide protection for crops and man. They may also appear at important ceremonies such as installations and funerals of chiefs and secret-society initiations.

The object Bush cow mask with the object ID 3043136 was part of the auction 87th Tribal Art Auction on November 11, 2017, lot number 305 at that time and is currently available for EUR 1,500 in Open sale.

You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.

Comparing literature

Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Lexikon Afrikanische Kunst und Kultur, München, Berlin 1994, p. 288