Janiform helmet mask, before 1920 ·  Cameroon / Nigeria, Cross River, Anyang (Banyang), Ekoi Complex · ID: 3049519

Description

wood, hide, pigments,

The technique of covering carved wooden helmet masks with skin is unique to the area along the Cross River, which straddles the border between Nigeria and Cameroon. Artists used antelope skin softened by a lengthy soaking in water.

The headdresses were used by mask societies on a wide variety of occasions, such as military victories, burials of society members, initiation rituals or public seasonal festivals.

The object Janiform helmet mask, before 1920 with the object ID 3049519 was last part of the auction 99th Auction at November 12, 2022 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 284 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,750.

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.