Description:

Africa, Nigeria, Igbo people, early 20th century CE. This is a colorful wood mask with a human face and a tall, flat crest; the face is black and white in the classic Igbo style, and the crest adds red and yellow and is topped with a red painted bundle of grass. There is a woven backing which was used to attach it to the top of the head. The face appears solemn, with a long, thin nose, narrowed eyes, and a slightly opened mouth. The Igbo use masks as incarnated spirits of the dead; this is why they are painted white, which is the color of the spirit. Masked dancers would wear elaborate costumes, including being sometimes covered with mirrors, and would don the masks and costumes so that their true identities disappeared, subsumed by the spirit they inhabited. The "mba" mask, like this one, often appears in pairs -- one representing a boy dressed as a girl, and one representing the girl whom he is satirizing. This particular example is notable for its use of yellow as well as its surviving organic material, which is often much more degraded. Size: 3.5" W x 18" H (8.9 cm x 45.7 cm)

Provenance: Ex- Adeon Gallery, Nick Poolos, Chicago, IL acquired before 1970.

All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.

A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.

We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.

#113239

  • Condition: Excellent preservation of organic matter on the mask; colors are bright, with expected wear.

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Discover, MasterCard, Visa

Shipping

Auction House will ship, at Buyer's expense

October 27, 2016 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of up to 24.5% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000