This is the rating and price for 20Th C. African Makonde Helmet Mask, Ex-Museum

Description : Southern Africa, Mozambique or Tanzania, Makonde peoples, ca. mid-20th century CE. A striking helmet mask, hand-carved from lightweight wood, depicting a stylized human face with a hollowed-out interior cavity. The face, painted a pale pink or red, features a wide, ringed neck base, cupped ears, broad lips enclosing a row of thin teeth, a relatively small nose, and heavily lidded eyes recessed beneath plateaued brows. The top of the head is slightly recessed from the hairline and features an interesting coiffure formed from small tufts of adhered human hair and two curved strips of green. Size: 7.5 W x 10.75 H (19 cm x 27.3 cm) Size: 7.5 W x 10.75 H (19 cm x 27.3 cm) The Makonde live along the Ruvuma River and are prolific producers of masks. These masks are known as mapiko, and they are used in initiation rites, in which ancestral spirits appear wearing these masks. The dancers in the rites wear the masks tilted over their heads so they can see out of the mouth of the mask, they playact as these ancestral spirits, who are called Lihoka. These dancers are men who have been initiated within the society. Provenance: ex-private Frank and Theresa Caplan collection, purchased in 1978, donated to Children's Museum of Indianapolis in 1985 (85.1.1847) All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #152185
Price: 622.50 USD It's free to register now to view!
Estimate (low-high) : 1000 USD-1500 USD It's free to register now to view!

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