Dance crest with janus head · Nigeria, Ijaw · ID: 3043526
sold
EUR 1,600
Provenance
Old British Collection, LondonZemanek-Münster, Würzburg, 13 March 2010, lot 200
Size
H: 52 cm
H: 20.5 inch
Description
wood, dark brown patina, partly encrusted polychrome paint, slightly dam., traces of insect caused damage, paint rubbed off, missing parts (top of the head).
The most important masquerades of the Ijaw are performed once a year in honour of the water spirits “ekine”. Aside of dance crests in the shape of human heads like the present one, they use big fish- or amphibian-shaped crests.
Publications
AHDRC: 0150362