Face mask "elu" ("spirit")
Nigeria, Ogoni
Price
EUR 350
plus 27 % commission, VAT, transport and insurance
Provenance
American Private CollectionFrank Bell, Cologne, Germany
Zemanek-Münster, Würzburg, 12 May 2007, Lot 280
Justin Barthels, Maastricht, The Netherlands
Size
H: 18 cm
H: 7.1 inch
Description
wood, two-part (articulated lower jaw), pigments,
“Elu” masks, normally beneficent spirits, either male or female, were worn by young men of the “ogoni” society, in ritual performances for funerals and when yams were planted and harvested.
Publications
AHDRC: 0098855