Dance emblem for show and prestige purposes
Click here to view a larger version of the imageLot: 211
98th AuctionDance emblem for show and prestige purposes
Nigeria, Igbo
Provenance | Size | Starting price / estimated price |
---|---|---|
Robert Banks, Washington, USA | M: 27.6 inch x 9.8 inch |
1500 EUR
plus 27 % commission, VAT, transport and insurance |
wood, mirror glass, pigments,
This panel, set with nine mirrors and crowned by three heads, could be held by a massive handle on the back.
According to Cole, these emblems were commissioned by the various age-grades for competitive and festive dance displays They were used as stage props or were paraded through public dance arenas. They served as a distinguishing mark for the age group associations and as objects of prestige. As such, they were lavishly decorated with mirrors and figures and new variants were constantly created.
A comparable panel illustrated in Cole, 1984, p. 110, fig. 207.