Mask – Wood – 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. Good condition with a beautiful aged patina. The front horn is restored in the past. Provenance: Manfred Schäfer former gallery owner from Ulm, Germany. Custom made stand is included in this lot!

Object	Mask
Ethnic group:	Igbo
Country:	Nigeria
Material:	Wood
Estimated period:	Mid 20th century
Sold with stand:	Yes
Dimensions:	26x16x10 cm
Weight:	400 gram
Condition:	Good condition, used with some signs of wear