Helmet mask "agbogho mmwo" ·  Nigeria, Igbo · ID: 3034986

Description

wood, encrusted patina, polychrome paint, surmounted by cross-shaped arranged janiform antelope resp. ram, pierced around the rim, rep. (breakage at the horn and neck of the quadruped), fine cracks, slight traces of abrasion, socle;
representing the “spirit of a young maiden” - “agbogho mmwo”. Belonging to the men’s “mmwo” society. Such masks were worn by young men on harvest festivities and at the annual ceremonies in honour of the earth spirit “ane”. The dancers wore coloured tight costumes with false breasts.

The object Helmet mask “agbogho mmwo” with the object ID 3034986 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 244 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,000.

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