Masque "agbogho mmwo" (Esprit d´une jeune fille)

wood, polychrome paint, fine carved, elaborate ornamental facial tattoos incised and in bas relief, min. dam., small missing parts (rim), slight traces of abrasion, base.
Northern Igbo masks take many forms: helmets of various configurations, face masks and a variety of headdress and crest types. The "agbogho mmwo" mask type symbolizes the ideals of juvenile female beauty and - with the ghostly white kaolin face- refers to the spirits of the venerated ancestors. The mask is worn by young men on harvest festivities ("yams rites") and on annual ceremonies in honour of the earth spirit "ane", as well as on pompous funerals of members of the society. The dancers were clothed in coloured tight costumes with false breasts.