Helmet mask "gelede" · Nigeria, Yoruba · ID: 3041491

Name: Helmet mask "gelede"
SKU: 3041491
Availability: Discontinued

not available anymore

Provenance

Eileen and Michael Cohen, New York City, USA (before 1970)

Size

H: 19 cm

L: 27 cm

H: 7.5 inch

L: 10.6 inch

Description

wood, red- and dark brown patina, characteristic form with receding forehead and projecting mouth part, carrying a drum on the head, drilled pupils, min. dam., various cracks/rep. in several places, base;
“gelede” celebrations mostly take place short before the planting of the yam roots. First when the “mothers” are conciliated, the men are able to do the farmwork and hope for a good harvest. The ritual starts by night. A hut of palm leaves is build in the middle of the dance floor, where all the masks were kept and where “iyalasche” (the head of the “gelede” cult) provides the dancers with the respective mask.

The object Helmet mask “gelede” with the object ID 3041491 was last part of the auction 84th Tribal Art Auction at November 5, 2016 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 321.

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