Mask – Wood – Agbogho Mmwo – Igbo / Ibo – Nigeria

Ibo or Igbo are known for masquerades associated with the Iko Okochi harvest festival, in which the forms of the masks are determined by tradition, the festival theme content varies yearly.

The Igbo use thousands of masks, which incarnate unspecified spirits of the dead, forming a vast community of souls. The outstanding characteristic of the many Igbo masks is that they are painted chalk white, the color of the spirit. Masked dancers wore extremely elaborate costumes (sometimes ornamented with mirrors) and often their feet and hands were covered. With their masks, the Igbo oppose beauty to bestiality, the feminine to the masculine, black to white. ( Zyama).

Good condition with a beautiful aged patina, covered with phembe, white kaoliën.

OBJECT
Mask
ETHNIC GROUP/ CULTURE
IBO
REGION/ COUNTRY
Nigeria
MATERIAL
Wood
PERIOD
Second half 20th century
CONDITION
Good condition, used with some signs of wear
SOLD WITH STAND
No
DIMENSIONS
46×28×8 cm
WEIGHT
1400 g