Mask of the "ekpo" society · Nigeria, Bini · ID: 3038296
Michael Cichon, Bradenton, USA
Description
wood, brown patina, indigoblue and res pigment, the facial plane coated with layers of white chalk-based pigment, the patina has acquired an encrusted, thickened look, indicating extensive reuse, headband of carved beads and floral ornaments on both sides, forehead tattoo with glass inlay, collection numbers backside: “AF 20”, “1971.696” und “517 OA-G”, slightly dam., minor crack (coiffure), abrasion of paint, base;
according to oral tradition, the “ekpo” cult has been introduced by Agboghidi, the village chief of Ugo, a village to the east of Benin city, from the 16th to the middle of the 18th century considered to be the center of political opposition to the central government.
The object Mask of the “ekpo” society with the object ID 3038296 was last part of the auction 79th Tribal Art Auction at March 21, 2015 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 254 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,000.
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Comparing literature
Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture, Munich 2009, p. 106