Cimier de danse anthropomorphe

Description

wood, kaolin, mass, human hair, insect caused damage, cracks, base

For a dance headdress by the same artist see AHDRC 0092689.

This headdresses were made for the “oglinye” performance genre tied to male initiation and danced also at second burial ceremonies of deceased society members.

These heads are reinventions, in wood, of actual trophy heads, taken in battle from enemies, which were danced earlier in precolonial “oglinye” rites.