Helmet mask "gelede" · Nigeria, Yoruba · ID: 3043493
Jan Lundberg, Malmö, Sweden
Description
wood, brown patina, black paint, traces of indigo blue and white pigment, drilled pupils, nose and ear holes, lancet-shaped tribal marks on forehead and cheeks, slightly dam., minor missing parts, cracks.
“Gelede” festivals are held on the arrival of the early spring rains and are performed in honour of “our mothers” - “awon iya wa”, also referred to as “our mothers, the witches - “awon iya wa aje”. They have been described as real spectacles with an enormous variety of headdresses and costumes.
The object Helmet mask “gelede” with the object ID 3043493 was last part of the auction 88th Tribal Art Auction at March 10, 2018 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 337.
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Publications
AHDRC: 0150563