Janus-faced helmet mask · Nigeria, Igbo · ID: 3044043
Christie’s, Paris, 8 December 2004, lot 171
Pierre Dartevelle, Brussels, Belgium
Description
wood, rep., base
The Middle Cross River region is populated by several Bantoid groups (Ekoi/Ejagham) as well as by northeastern Igbo people. Cross-cultural influences abound. The most popular art form, the helmet mask with one or more faces, seems to be common to all groups. A clear attribution is difficult
The mask was designated by Christie’s Paris in 2004 as being from the Ejagham. AHDRC attributes comparable objects as being from the Igbo (compare AHDRC 0094774, 0094781, 0094937).
The object Janus-faced helmet mask with the object ID 3044043 was part of the auction 89th Tribal Art Auction on July 7, 2018. The object with the lot number 278 achieved a sales price of EUR 6,500 with an asking price of EUR 6,000.
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.
Publications
AHDRC: 0091120 and 0091208