Zemanek-Münster

Water spirit mask ·  Nigeria, Ijaw · ID: 3038777

not available anymore
Provenance
Jean-Paul Agogué, Paris, France
Size
H: 66 cm
H: 26.0 inch

Description

wood, matt patina, remains of polychrome paint, round mask face with a deeply hollowed facial plane and tubular projecting eyes, plug on the head, concave vaulted shield-shaped projection at the chin, carved with a stylized bird, min. dam., fine cracks, traces of abrasion, base;
the ancestors “duen”, the deceased local heroes “am’om” and the water spirits “owuamapu” play an important role in the Ijaws religious belief. Every year a festival in honour of the water spirits takes place, lasting for several days, held in order to win their favour and to secure the well-being of the community.


The object Water spirit mask with the object ID 3038777 was last part of the auction 80th Tribal Art Auction at June 27, 2015 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 343.

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

Anderson, Martha G., Ways of the Rivers, Los Angeles 2002, p. 209, ill. 6.25


Publications

Massa, Gabriel & Francois Ndiaye, L' oiseau dans l' art de l' Afrique de l' Ouest, 2004, p.122, ill. 199


Exhibition

Mairie du VIe Arrondissement, Paris 2005; Muséum d'histoire naturelle, Grenoble 2005; Museum d'histoire naturelle, Aix-en-Provence 2005


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