Mama dance crest

Mama dance crest

Mama dance crest from the Jos plateau in Nigeria, wood, raffia, fabric
Date
early XXth
Size
height 33 cm, 16 cm of width, depth 21,5 cm
Collection
Tribal Art
Condition
Bon, fente ancienne bas du cou gauche.
Inventory number
588
Price
sur demande / on demand
 

Carved with the head of a bush spirit surmounted by two mighty buffalo horns..

These masks are meant to bring prosperity to the whole tribe.

This work distinguishes itself by the rare figurative representation of the spirit of the bush, with the anthropozoomorphic head, half man half buffalo, with a very strong expression.

Hardwood, old patina of ocher, red and brown use, thick in some places, fabrics and rattan.

Origin Alain Porel

 

Bibliography :

« Introduction aux arts d’Afrique Noire « by Marie Louise Bastin Edition Arnouville 1984

Page 218 for an also antropozoomorphic model