Female mask "wife of va" · Nigeria, Mumuye · ID: 3034855
Description
wood, matt patina, red and black paint, kaolin, min. dam., missing parts through insect caused damage (inside), cracks, traces of abrasion, socle;
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. According to Sieber and Ververs this mask type is the female partner of the buffalo mask appearing at the “vabong” masquerade.
The object Female mask “wife of va” with the object ID 3034855 was last part of the auction 73rd tribal art auction at May 25, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 265 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,300.
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Comparing literature
Evers, Christophe, Art of the Upper Benue River, Brüssel 2003, p. 20