Face mask "idiok ekpo" ·  Nigeria, Ibibio · ID: 3042009

Description

wood, encrusted blackish brown patina, eyes and snarling mouth openworked and particularly emphasized by red and white pigment, raised scarification marks at the temples, slightly dam. (nose), missing parts backside along the rim (partly insect caused/partly broken), rep. (breakage at the chin), base;
the “ekpo” (Ibibio word for ancestor) society represents the most important Ibibio society. “Ekpo” members danced light coloured “mfon” and black or dark colored “idiok” masks that evoke benign and more numerous malevolent ancestors, respectively. Most Ibibio masks are dark coloured, as embodying ugly, unsatisfied spirits whose behaviour provided negative examples for the living.

The object Face mask “idiok ekpo” with the object ID 3042009 was last part of the auction 85th Tribal Art Auction at March 4, 2017 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 259 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,500.

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