Igbo Agbogo Mwo mask - SODL OTU
African art of Benue
A wooden mask of a female wearing a distinctive headdress and carved in a sensual and masterful manner to achieve complexity and beauty. The top of the mask has a large coiffure consisting of a large crest with two smaller crests flanking the sides with traces of white pigment. The cap like hair has a series of curls engraved to the surface and is painted with black pigment. The face is slightly looking down and is carved with a scarification mark to the forehead and sides of the face, a small brow with half open eyes, and a long nose that is slightly pointed to the end.
The small mouth has a fleshy lower lip and is slightly open. The surface of the face is covered in white kaolin clay and the sides are pierced from the addition of a raffia collar.
This type of mask represents the spirit of a young girl, the white kaolin denoting that the person is deceased as well as signifying beauty. The other features of the face also denote beauty that is recognised by the Igbo people, notably the small half closed eyes and the small mouth that is sensuously open.
The large headdress coiffure is the most notable feature of these masks, and is a naturalistic representation of the hairstyles worn by young women. The unusual central crest with its row of circular bosses, recalls the former custom of attaching brass coins to the hair. The masks are primarily worn during funeral ceremonies by men, who not only honour the spirit of the deceased girl, but also that of the earth.
01307
Data sheet
- Size
- 61 cm
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood
- Country
- Condition
- Vintage
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African art of Benue
A wooden mask of a female wearing a distinctive headdress and carved in a sensual and masterful manner to achieve complexity and beauty. The top of the mask has a large coiffure consisting of a large crest with two smaller crests flanking the sides with traces of white pigment. The cap like hair has a series of curls engraved to the surface and is painted with black pigment. The face is slightly looking down and is carved with a scarification mark to the forehead and sides of the face, a small brow with half open eyes, and a long nose that is slightly pointed to the end.
The small mouth has a fleshy lower lip and is slightly open. The surface of the face is covered in white kaolin clay and the sides are pierced from the addition of a raffia collar.
This type of mask represents the spirit of a young girl, the white kaolin denoting that the person is deceased as well as signifying beauty. The other features of the face also denote beauty that is recognised by the Igbo people, notably the small half closed eyes and the small mouth that is sensuously open.
The large headdress coiffure is the most notable feature of these masks, and is a naturalistic representation of the hairstyles worn by young women. The unusual central crest with its row of circular bosses, recalls the former custom of attaching brass coins to the hair. The masks are primarily worn during funeral ceremonies by men, who not only honour the spirit of the deceased girl, but also that of the earth.