Dance emblem for show and prestige purposes · Nigeria, Igbo · ID: 3048810
Description
wood, mirror glass, pigments,
This panel, set with nine mirrors and crowned by three heads, could be held by a massive handle on the back.
According to Cole, these emblems were commissioned by the various age-grades for competitive and festive dance displays. They were used as stage props or were paraded through public dance arenas. They served as a distinguishing mark for the age group associations and as objects of prestige. As such, they were lavishly decorated with mirrors and figures and new variants were constantly created.
A comparable panel illustrated in Cole, 1984, p. 110, fig. 207.
The object Dance emblem for show and prestige purposes with the object ID 3048810 was part of the auction 98th Auction on March 26, 2022, lot number 211 at that time and is currently available for EUR 1,500 in Open sale.
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Comparing literature
Cole, Herbert M. & Chike C. Aniakor, Igbo Arts, Los Angeles 1984, p. 110, ill. 207