Figural headdress
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Lot: 214
91 Tribal Art AuctionFigural headdress
Nigeria, Ogoni / Ibibio
| Provenance | Size | Starting price / estimated price |
|---|---|---|
| Fily Keita, Los Angeles, USA | H: 18.1 inch |
5000 EUR
plus 27 % commission, VAT, transport and insurance |
wood, strong encrusted patina, plant fibre, base
This headdress was probably used for the "ka-elu" masquerade which was performed for fertility purposes prior to the New Yam festival.
At a corresponding event at E-eke in July 1992, more than twenty mask dancers were observed, each representing one particular family of the city. They moved from one family compound to the next t in order to bring blessings from the ancestors and dispel evil spirits.
Anderson, Martha G., Ways of the Rivers, Los Angeles 2002, p. 281, ill. 9.7
Compare AHDRC 0144396
