Mask · Nigeria, Eket · ID: 3037530
not available anymore
Provenance
René David, Zurich, SwitzerlandAntonio Fiacco, Zurich, Switzerland
Size
H: 76,5 cm
H: 30.1 inch
Description
light brown wood, slighlty encrusted dark brown patina, of narrow elongated form, sickle-shaped pierced eyes with two further openings below, crowned by a post-shaped elongated female half figure with hat-like headgear, min. dam., traces of insect caused damage, abrasion;
the Eket are a small ethnic group belonging to the Ibibio. Just like the Ibibio the Eket have an “ekpo” society, a society of soothsayers, called “idiong”, a society named after the god of war “ekong” and the “ogbom” society worshipping the goddess of fertility.
Comparing literature
Neyt, Francois, L'Art Eket, Paris 1979, ill. 31