Horned mask ·  Nigeria, Urhobo · ID: 3034894

Description

wood, blackish brown patina, rhomb-shaped horns, elongated linear scarification marks, dam., minor missing parts (chin, ears, forehead, tip of the rhomb), rep. (?) on the right side of the face, metal socle;
this mask type is used in ceremonies honoring the water spirit “ohworhu”, common to the southern Urhobo communities. Once in a decade the people celebrate “ohworhu”. On two days of masquerade dancing and during preliminary rites spaced throughout the previous months, they honor the spirits responsible for the well-being of the community.

The object Horned mask with the object ID 3034894 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 269 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,760.

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