Lot: 273

94th Tribal Art Auction

Rare zoomorphic mask "gugwom" (crocodile?)

Nigeria, Northern Benue, Montol / Goemai

Provenance Size Starting price / estimated price
Berndt Helleberg, Stockholm, Sweden L: 23.6 inch This object is not available anymore.

wood, red and white pigment, missing part, insect caused damage, base

The mask was worn horizontally on the head. Arnold Rubin (1988) reported that the mask type appeared on harvest festivities and chiefly burials.

One of the rare comparable masks illustrated in Wittmer (1978), p. 94, ill. 219 (AHDRC 0097841).


Wittmer, Marcilene K. & William Arnett, Three Rivers of Nigeria, Atlanta 1978, p. 94, ill. 219