Mask with hinged jaw "elu" · Nigeria, Ogoni · ID: 3036107
Description
wood, greyish patina, crowned by a seated drummer, rep. (breakages at both arms), small missing parts through insect caused damage, slight traces of abrasion, base;
“elu” masks are worn by young men of the “ogoni” secret society. They were attached to a cone-shaped fibre and cloth cap. The corresponding costumes varied. The small caricatures represent different characters. In a funny or tragic way they illustrate oral traditions in stories and songs.
The object Mask with hinged jaw “elu” with the object ID 3036107 was last part of the auction 76th tribal art auction at March 22, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 471 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,550.
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Expertise
Karl-Ferdinand Schädler, 22.4.2003, Munich, Germany
Comparing literature
David, Jean, Ogoni, Zürich 2002, p. 34