Helmet mask "lipiko" · Mozambique, Makonde · ID: 3034768
German Private Collection
Description
wood, matt patina, polychrome paint, plastically carved with very naturalistic facial features, the whole facial area covered with tribe-typical scarification marks, crowned by a parted coiffure made of real hair, min. dam., small missing parts, slight traces of abrasion, wooden socle;
“lipiko” masks appeared at initiation celebrations. They were worn by the young initiates “vaali” at the “mapiko” masquerade. They depict woman rather than men and were kept in special sacred houses outside the village. Women were not allowed to see them.
The object Helmet mask “lipiko” with the object ID 3034768 was part of the auction 73rd tribal art auction on May 25, 2013. The object with the lot number 461 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,400 with an asking price of EUR 2,000.
You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.