- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Wooden mask of a face with movable jaw. [ZM 25/04/2013]
- Long description
- Wooden mask with carved openings at the eyes and a detachable jaw secured with what appears to be wire to the main part of the mask. The mechanism of this design allowing the mouth to open and close. Carved human facial features with a band around the forehead and two curling horns on top of the head with a skull between them. Scarification design at the side of each eye. Predominantly painted black with white teeth, white on the head band and eyes of the skull, plus orange/red colour on the eyelids, head band and mouth. A nail in each of the horns, one appearing to be securing a break to the tip of the horn. This could have been a local repair. [ZM 25/04/2013]
- Person
- Field collector Edward Harland Duckworth
- PRM source Edward Harland Duckworth
- PRM source R. Haines
- Date / Period
- Date made: Before 1972
- Date collected
- By 1972
- Acquisition information
- Bequeathed: 1972
- Materials and processes
- Material Wood Plant, Material Pigment, Material Metal, Process Painted, Process Carved, Process Nailed, Process Repaired (local)
- Dimensions
- Height: max 490 mm, Width: max 250 mm, Depth: max 146 mm
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1972.24.139
- Research and responses
John Picton examined this mask during a consultation visit about the African masks on 20 August 2013 and thought this looks like the style of mask used by the Ibibio and Annang rather than the Ijo. [ZM 21/08/2013]
Jill Salmons examined this mask during a consultation visit to look at the Ibibio masks on 9 January 2014 and noted the following: This looks like an Annang Ibibio (western Ibibio) ekpo mask, as there is a piece of wood at the back of the mask for holding in the mouth when worn and the hinged jaw is characteristic of this group. The tribal markings on the sides are in the lattice-style. The band around the forehead represents the Idiong society and the skull denotes belonging to the Ebie-owo association so this presumably represents a spirit of a member of that association. Masks like this are often black, sometimes with red, yellow and white ochres used. In this case the paint looks modern but this could still be an older mask as they are often repainted. [ZM 17/03/2014]
- Associated publications
- Masks 1972.24.67 and 1972.24.139 have both being photographed while being worn and these black and white images are on page 315 of 'The Ekpe Society', by A.J. Udo Ema (see pages 314 to 316 of Nigeria: A Quarterly Magazine of General Interest, no. 16, 4th Quarter 1938). The captions on also on page 315 read: 'Left: A white-faced Ibo mask from the Onitsha district representing the re-embodied spirit of a girl. It is worn by men impersonating girls passing through "nkpu," a ceremony prior to marriage. Right: A mask said to come from Kalabari, but similar to those made by the Anang for the Ekpe Society. The lower jaw is movable.' No accession numbers are included but the one on the left is 1972.24.67 and the one on the right 1972.24.139. In the article the author notes how in some parts of the Efik country men do not consider their social standing adequate unless they are members of the Ekpe Society. Ekpe, means leopard, which in the region is considered the king of the beasts as they are the most ferocious animal found in the area. Membership of the Society was not restricted to men only but could include the eldest daughters of respected families, although only males could attend the ceremonies, meetings and take part in the masquerades. [ZM 1/7/2019]
Search terms: Mask