Zemanek-Münster
Rare zoomorphic mask "gugwom" (crocodile?), Nigeria, Northern Benue, Montol / Goemai, Size: L: 60 cm (L: 23.6 inch), ID: 3046582
Rare zoomorphic mask "gugwom" (crocodile?), Nigeria, Northern Benue, Montol / Goemai, Size: L: 60 cm (L: 23.6 inch), ID: 3046582 - 2/6 Rare zoomorphic mask "gugwom" (crocodile?), Nigeria, Northern Benue, Montol / Goemai, Size: L: 60 cm (L: 23.6 inch), ID: 3046582 - 3/6 Rare zoomorphic mask "gugwom" (crocodile?), Nigeria, Northern Benue, Montol / Goemai, Size: L: 60 cm (L: 23.6 inch), ID: 3046582 - 4/6 Rare zoomorphic mask "gugwom" (crocodile?), Nigeria, Northern Benue, Montol / Goemai, Size: L: 60 cm (L: 23.6 inch), ID: 3046582 - 5/6 Rare zoomorphic mask "gugwom" (crocodile?), Nigeria, Northern Benue, Montol / Goemai, Size: L: 60 cm (L: 23.6 inch), ID: 3046582 - 6/6
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Lot 273
94th Tribal Art Auction

Rare zoomorphic mask "gugwom" (crocodile?) ·  Nigeria, Northern Benue, Montol / Goemai · ID: 3046582

not available anymore
Provenance
Berndt Helleberg, Stockholm, Sweden
Size
L: 60 cm
L: 23.6 inch

Description

wood, red and white pigment, missing part, insect caused damage, base

The mask was worn horizontally on the head. Arnold Rubin (1988) reported that the mask type appeared on harvest festivities and chiefly burials.

One of the rare comparable masks illustrated in Wittmer (1978), p. 94, ill. 219 (AHDRC 0097841).

The object Rare zoomorphic mask “gugwom” (crocodile?) with the object ID 3046582 was last part of the auction 94th Tribal Art Auction at March 7, 2020 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 273.

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

Wittmer, Marcilene K. & William Arnett, Three Rivers of Nigeria, Atlanta 1978, p. 94, ill. 219

Africa
Masks

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