Mask "nne mgbo" · Nigeria, Igbo-Afikpo · ID: 3033569
Description
wood, dark brown patina, kaolin, attached to a grass fibre base, prominent nose and “smiling” mouth, pierced around the rim, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion, on base;
this mask is “nne mgbo”, “mother of ngbo”, and represents the mother of the maiden mask. The maidens are the centerpiece of the entire spectacle, worn by tall men wearing wigs and walking around with long strides. Their performance is a parody on femaleness and thereby reinforces maculinity.
The object Mask “nne mgbo” with the object ID 3033569 was last part of the auction 70th tribal art auction at September 8, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 294.
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.
Comparing literature
Roberts, Allen F., The shape of belief, San Francisco 1997, p. 74, ill. 41