1966.16.79.2

Collection type

Object

Description

Headdress [.2] from a dance costume [.1]

Long description

This headdress [.2] is from the rest of the dance costume, comprising a mask and tunic, which are securely joined together [.1]. The head-dress is made from a wooden frame bound with coloured strips of felt and decorated with squares of blue, green and white wool, plus squares of yellow felt and green wool. Stitched onto the felt along the top of the frame are three stuffed felt birds, there is also a stuffed tassel at each end of the top of the frame. Originally the two pieces of wood forming the sides of the frame slotted into two holes in the top of the mask, one side of the frame is still attached in this manner, the end section of the other side of the frame is missing. [ZM 26/04/2013]

Geographical reference

Nigeria

Africa > Western Africa > Nigeria

Cultural groups

Igbo

Idoma

Person

Field collector E.R. Jerrim

Field collector Edward Reginald Jerrim

PRM source Mrs F.J. Bull

Date / Period

Date made: Before 1920

Date collected

1909 - 1920

Acquisition information

Donated: 1966

Materials and processes

Material Wool Textile Animal, Material Wood Plant, Material Felt Wool Textile Animal, Process Felted

Dimensions

Length: max 1710 mm total, Height: max 420 mm, Width: max 375 mm

Object numbers

Accession number: 1966.16.79.2

Research and responses

See Cole, Herbert M. "Igbo." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. http://www.oxfordartonline.com/subscriber/article/grove/art/T039869 for a description of the cloth covered framework structures sometimes attached to masks by the northern Igbo during the late 19th and early 20th century. [ZM 26/04/2013]

John Picton examined this mask and costume during a consultation visit to look at Igbo masks on 12 November 2013 and noted the following: The original identification of this as Idoma is possible (see accession book description), as female white-faced masks like this are found amongst the Idoma and the Igbo, however Sidney Kasfir is an expert on the Idoma so the identification of this as Igbo rather than Idoma is probably correct. If Igbo this is likely to be northern or north-eastern Igbo. The felt and wool is imported, the blue cotton on the sleeve factory woven and resist dyed and white panel to create an opening to see out is locally spun cotton, which has an interactive warp-weft structure (an interesting technique widely used but in West Africa quite rare). The panel on top of the head represents an elaborate hairstyle and the square woollen sections could provide a means of tying in magical medicine. The figures on the top of the panel look like birds, which can be either pretty and decorative or an association with witches. 1966.16.80.1 could be a bird because of the two legs and a tail and 1966.16.80 .2 a leopard because of the spots. [ZM 20/11/2013]

Search terms: Clothing Headgear, Ornament, Mask, Headdress