This is the rating and price for 20Th C. African Makonde Wooden Helmet Mask

Description : **Originally Listed At $350** Southern Africa, Mozambique or Tanzania, Makonde peoples, ca. first half of the 20th century CE. A beautiful helmet mask, hand-carved from lightweight wood. The mask presents large, curved eyes, a broad nose with delineated nostrils, a mouth full of thin teeth, enormous ears, and scarification marks tracing along the cheeks, upper lip, nose, chin, and forehead. The coiffure is carved out and resembles a large crown with four points, and the interior is carved out for wear. Size: 8 W x 8 H (20.3 cm x 20.3 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 them. The dancers in the rites wear the masks tilted over their heads so they can see out of the mouth of the mask, they play-act as these ancestral spirits, who are called Lihoka. These dancers are men who have been initiated within the society. Provenance: private Los Angeles, California USA collection, ex-Dimondstein Tribal Arts, Los Angeles, California, USA 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. #137347
Price: 311.25 USD It's free to register now to view!
Estimate (low-high) : 700 USD-1050 USD It's free to register now to view!

Details