Maiden spirit face mask "agbogho mmwo" ·  Nigeria, Igbo · ID: 3037957

Description

wood, kaolin, encrusted black paint, red and indigo blue pigment, dam., missing parts through insect caused damage backside at the rim of the mask, dam. (coiffure), cracks, abrasion of paint;
the maiden masks are danced by men, although they honor young marriageable girls and unnamed ancestors. Most subregions in Igbo country feature these maskes, each in its local style. The occasions for such masks to dance in public were many: dry-season festivals, one of which was called “the fame of maidens”; second burial ceremonies; rites honoring village deities or plentiful harvests.

The object Maiden spirit face mask “agbogho mmwo” with the object ID 3037957 was part of the auction 79th Tribal Art Auction on March 21, 2015. The object with the lot number 265 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,200 with an asking price of EUR 1,000.

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Comparing literature

Maples, Amanda (ed.), African Art from the Leslie Sacks Collection, MIlan 2013, p. 126