Helmet mask "gelede" ·  Nigeria, Yoruba · ID: 3042716

Description

wood, reddish brown patina, black paint, indigo blue and white pigment, plaited coiffure with pierced middle crest and broad brim, old collection number backside at the rim: “7893”, slightly dam., abrasion of paint, breakage (crest), traces from inserted nails around lower rim.
“Gelede” festivals are held at the arrival of the early spring rains and are performed in honour of “our mothers”, “awon iya wa”. They have been described as real spectacles with an enormous variety of headdresses and costumes.

The object Helmet mask “gelede” with the object ID 3042716 was last part of the auction 87th Tribal Art Auction at November 11, 2017 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 317 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,500.

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