Hunter's decoy headdress "burtu" ·  Nigeria, Hausa · ID: 3042094

Description

Southern Ground Hornbill (Borcorvus spp.), skull of a hornbill, with beak, for the most part wrapped in animal skin, eyes inset with red seed capsules, package from red fabric, min. dam., small missing parts, slight traces of abrasion, base;
among the Haussa and others, hunters from various villages band together to engage in communal hunt known as “bago”. Before setting out, the hunters, completely clothed in black garments and bird headdresses tied with a strap around their heads, perform the “burtu” dance. The same performance may also celebrate the exploits of renowned hunters.

The object Hunter’s decoy headdress “burtu” with the object ID 3042094 was last part of the auction 86th Tribal Art Auction at May 27, 2017 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 302 achieved a sales price of EUR 450.

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Comparing literature

Drewal, Henry John, Traditional Art of the Nigerian Peoples, Washington D.C. 1977, p. 49, ill. 48