Warthog mask · Nigeria, Yoruba · ID: 3052801
Starting price
EUR 1,000
Estimated price
EUR 2,000
Provenance
German Private CollectionSize
H: 52 cm
H: 20.5 inch
Description
wood, pigments, label “26”
In the Yoruba “gelede” tradition, the warthog symbolizes untamed natural forces as well as social disorder. It represents individuals who rise from lower status to positions of authority without the maturity or integrity to fulfill their role. The motif thus warns that power gained without responsibility easily slips into chaos and threatens communal balance.
Comparing literature
Lawal, Babatunde, The Gèlèdé Spectacle, Seattle, London 1996, p. 250