Female mask "wife of va" ·  Nigeria, Mumuye · ID: 3032712

Description

wood, polychrome paint, of elongated form with large pierced eyes, projecting snout with notched contour, min. dam., fissures, traces of insect caused damage, on metal base;
such masks are used in connection with harvest rites. When the corn has ripened the mask dancer performs together with his attendants, visiting all the neighbouring farmsteads.

The object Female mask “wife of va” with the object ID 3032712 was last part of the auction 69th tribal art auction at June 2, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 339.

You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.

Comparing literature

Evers, Christophe, Art of the Upper Benue River, Brüssel 2003, p. 20