Mask · Nigeria, Urhobo · ID: 3034422
Description
wood, polychrome paint, remains of fabric, mirror glass, surmounted by a crown-shaped headgear and a separately carved standing female figure, pierced around the rim, min. dam., traces of abrasion, cracks, metal socle;
the Urhobo are a small Edo-speaking ethnical group living in the northwest of the Nigerdelta. They made sculptures of terracotta and wood for worshipping the ancestors and supernatural powers, as well as wooden masks which were said to be connected with earth- and water spirits.
These rare masks appear at ceremonies for the water spirit “ohworu”. The hairstyle of the mask shows the coiffure of brides, when introduced to the community of the village.
The object Mask with the object ID 3034422 was last part of the auction 72nd tribal art auction at March 9, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 359 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,400.
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Comparing literature
Hahner-Herzog, Iris, Das Zweite Gesicht, Genf, München, New York 1997, ill. 46