Carved and painted wooden mask. MdeA 23 4 1998

Collection type: Object
Description: Carved and painted wooden mask. MdeA 23 4 1998
Long description: Carved and painted wooden mask. The face is painted white with raised black marks on forehead and cheeks (possibly indicating scarification?). The mouth is slightly open showing small unpainted wooden pegs for teeth between black lips. The eyes are open slits, painted white but lined inside with black paint. The part of the mask indicating hair is uncarved but painted dark brown / black. Below the chin are two ?breasts painted dark brown/black. MdeA 23 4 1998
Geographical reference: Nigeria
Africa > Western Africa > Nigeria; Central Nigeria Lower Benue River Valley Benue State Otobi
Cultural groups: Idoma
Person: Field collector Captain Beaver; PRM source Captain Beaver
Date / Period: Date made: Before 1932
Date collected: By 1932
Acquisition information: Donated: 1932
Materials and processes: Material Wood Plant, Material Pigment, Process Carved, Process Painted
Dimensions: Length 325 mm, Width: max 210 mm
Object numbers: Accession number: 1932.33.6
Research and responses: For an Idoma mask with similar enlargements around the throat area entitled a 'Goiter mask' see photograph 238 on page 100 of Three Rivers of Nigeria by Marcilene K. Wittmer and William Arnett (Atlanta, Georgia: The High Museum of Art, 1978). The caption (same page) reads: 'Sieber reports that he observed similar masks in the Idoma area. When he inquired as to their significance he was shown women actually suffering from this condition. The indication is that this type of mask is now used primarily for entertainment, though it originally may have served a more symbolic purpose.' [ZM 05/06/2013]
Note Af1937,0102.1 is the British Museum accession number for the Idoma mask given in exchange (see accession book entry) that originally formed part of the five donated to the Pitt Rivers by Captain Beaver in 1932. [ZM 08/07/2013]
In the G.I. Jones photographic archive at Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA), Cambridge, is a black and white negative (identification number N.71487.GIJ), almost certainly of this mask, which is described on the MAA Photographic Catalogue as follows: 'An Idoma face mask. The face is painted white with the characteristic Idoma markings consisting of three rows of vertical markings representing keloids painted black located in the centre of the forehead and on each temple. There are also circular designs on the forehead. The eyes consist of narrow slits with defined black eyebrows, wide nose and mouth painted black with white teeth. The ears are painted black and the top of the head symbolising the hair is black. The masks is resting on a black circular base. The mask is hanging on a wall with a piece of twine threaded through two holes of the mask.' [ZM 25/11/2013]
This object is carved in the style of Ochai, though not as finely detailed as his pieces actually are.
Associated publications: Illustrated in black and white as Figure 52 on page 145 of The Art of Eastern Nigeria, by G. I. Jones (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1984). The caption (same page) reads: '52 White-faced mask'. The figure is also listed on page viii of the table of illustrations: '52 White-faced mask: probably from Otobi village (P.R.M.). Idoma.' The figure is used to illustrate the author's brief reference on page 144 to 'The Idoma carvings which I have seen resemble each other very closely and were very similar to some Northern Ibo masks (Fig.52).' [JC 22 5 2009]

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