- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Headdress mask with a row of holes around the base. The outer surface covered in pigment. [ZM 16/05/2013]
- Geographical reference
- Southern Nigeria Niger Delta Rivers State Abonnema
- Date / Period
- Date made: Before 1916
- Date collected
- By 1916
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 1916
- Materials and processes
- Material Wood Plant, Material Pigment, Process Carved, Process Perforated, Process Painted
- Dimensions
- Height: max 417 mm, Depth: max 209 mm, Width: max 133 mm
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1916.45.99
- Research and responses
See Talbot, 'Tribes of the Niger Delta', 1932, pp. 307-317. [CF 27/3/2001]
John Picton examined this mask during a consultation visit about the Ijo masks on 20 August 2013 and noted the following: This is a Kalabari Ijo head-dress mask worn as part of a costume in water-spirit (owu) masquerades. Amongst the Eastern Ijo, who are categorised as the groups living on the east side of the Nun River, which includes the Kalabari, water-spirit masquerades are looked after by the Ekine society. This type of mask is worn on top of the head with the carved face pointing skywards, although this makes the mask invisible to spectators at times they do see glimpses of the mask through the movements of masquerader's dance. [ZM 21/08/2013]
Search terms: Clothing Headgear, Ritual and Ceremonial, Theatre and Drama, Mask, Ornament, Headdress, Ceremonial Object