Water spirit headdress ·  Nigeria, Ijaw (Ijo) · ID: 3047064

Description

wood, pigments,
Water spirits “owuamapu” play an important role in the religious ideas of the Ijaw.

They are embodied by masks that always combine human features with those of aquatic creatures

The performances of the masks were colourful spectacles with high entertainment value and should invoke local water spirits for assistance and guidance.

It is claimed that these performances imitate dances of the water spirits themselves, and the masks sometimes exit or enter from the water.

The object Water spirit headdress with the object ID 3047064 was last part of the auction 95th Tribal Art Auction at October 24, 2020 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 182 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,200.

Here you will find more objects and interesting facts about African art.

Comparing literature

Cole, Herbert M., Invention and Tradition, Munich, London, New York 2012, p. 71 ff.