Deformation mask · Nigeria, Ibibio · ID: 3033307
Harald & Ursula Suhr, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada / Germany (1978)
Description
wood, blackish brown patina, red and white paint, slanting eyes with vaulted lids, a deformed nose-mouth-area, missing parts, traces of insect caused damage and abrasion;
illness or deformation mask, belonging to the “idiok” masks, which were used to be danced at masquerades of the “ekpo” society, depicting people suffering of untreated leprosy, gangosa, syphilitic lesions, or mucosal leishmaniasis.
The object Deformation mask with the object ID 3033307 was part of the auction 70th tribal art auction on September 8, 2012. The object with the lot number 136 achieved a sales price of EUR 500 with an asking price of EUR 450.
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Comparing literature
Herreman, Frank, To cure and protect, New York 1999, p. 23, ill. 13