Water spirit mask ·  Nigeria, Ijaw · ID: 3036499

Description

wood, matt brown patina, black and blue paint, round calotte with tube-shaped protruding eyes and small ears, the snout reminding of a crocodile, carved with a snake, pierced around the rim, rep. (breakages at the snout), missing parts through insect caused damage, fine cracks, traces of abrasion, base;
the life of the Ijaw who live in the extreme wateriness of the Niger Delta is closely connected to water, which is why their headdresses depict aquatic beings instead of bush spirits. These masks were worn horizontal, because the water spirits have their face in one level with the surface of the water as well.

The object Water spirit mask with the object ID 3036499 was last part of the auction 76th tribal art auction at March 22, 2014 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 456.

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Comparing literature

Anderson, Martha G., Ways of the Rivers, Los Angeles 2001, p. 132