- Collection type
- Object
- Description
- Wooden helmet mask with open carved slits for eyes and a partially open mouth. [ZM 02/04/2013]
- Long description
- Wooden helmet mask with open carved slits for eyes and a partially open mouth. Carved helmet mask of pale coloured wood. It has the appearance of a human face with a semi-circular head decoration on top and carved combs at each side. The face is finely carved with a long, slim nose, mouth with teeth, small high ears, facial decoration on the forehead and between the eyes and ears. There are carved coils to represent hair. The hair, eyes, lips and facial decoration have black pigmentation on them. JN 23 4 1998.
- Geographical reference
- Southern Nigeria Niger Delta or Nri-Akwa area
- Date / Period
- Date made: Before 1908
- Date collected
- By 1908
- Acquisition information
- Donated: 1908
- Materials and processes
- Material Wood Plant, Material Pigment, Process Carved, Process Painted, Process Perforated
- Dimensions
- Width: max 180 mm, Depth: max 260 mm, Height: max 440 mm
- Object numbers
- Accession number: 1908.20.1
- Research and responses
John Picton examined this mask during a consultation visit about the African masks on 20 August 2013 and noted the following: This definitely appears to be Igbo, as it is in the characteristic style of the Igbo white-faced masks (see 1922.67.24 and 1938.15.4 for other examples). The style of the carving and decoration is typical of the north-west area of the Igbo speaking region, which is to the east of the River Niger. This style of white-faced mask is often called a 'maiden mask' as they depict unmarried women. The hairstyle includes combs and a decorative ridge, which is unusual in this example as it is unpainted and there do not appear to be any remnants of paint. The hairstyle depicted could show an actual hairstyle, wig or combination of both. There are facial markings in down the centre of the forehead and to the side of each eye. These masks, carved by men, partly show an interpretation of what males think unmarried women are like. This mask has a piece broken off at the back, the break could have happened locally or after it was collected, it is hard to tell. This is an interesting example of this style of mask from this inner area of Nigeria, as this predates the influence of Europeans that began after World War 1. [ZM 21/08/2013]
John Picton examined the Igbo white-faced masks during a consultation visit on 12 November 2013 and noted the following: These white-faced masks are generally worn by middle-aged men (in their thirties and forties) performing the Agbogho mmanwu, which means maiden masquerade (see 1908.20.1, 1912.61.1, 1922.67.24, 1938.15.4 to 6, and 1972.24.67). In this masquerade the masks often appear in a series of staggered performances, for example two masqueraders may appear together one representing the mother and the other the daughter, which will be followed by another two masked performers. This style of mask depicts a female with an ornate hairstyle, which can be part of the actual carved mask or in the case of masks like 1938.15.5 and 6 attachments would be added to the costume to create this kind of hairstyle when these are used in masquerade. The circles across the ridge of this one could depict mirrors. Although the accession book entry describes this particular mask as Ijo from the Niger River, in style this is typical of the Nri-Akwa Igbo white-faced maiden masks. [ZM 19/11/2013]
Search terms: Mask, Clothing Headgear, Dance, Dance Accessory