This is the rating and price for Rare African Afikpo Dance Mask, 1972

Description : West Africa, Nigeria, Igbo, ca. early 20th century CE. A fabulous hand carved dance mask of the Afikpo culture representing a human spirit, of a typical oval, narrow and elongated form, carved with minimalist detailing in a streamlined manner that conjures the masterful paintings and sculptures of modernist icons such as as Modigliani, Picasso, and Matisse who were inspired by and also collected African art. Size: 6.5 W x 10 H (16.5 cm x 25.4 cm) In addition to the sublime carving, this mask was painted with vibrant scarlet red, silver, and black pigments and perforated all over the forehead presumably to attach hair or natural fibers. According to University of Washington anthropology professor Simon Ottenberg, These masks are faces, not half or full heads, or helmets. What's more, when human beings don these masks, they are believed to be spirits rather than people. Though most players are individually recognizable by their manner of dancing, walking, singing, and in other ways, the fiction is maintained that they are not really humans at all, but a general form of spirit. (Humorous Masks and Serious Politics among Afikpo Ibo, S. Ottenberg, African Art and Leadership, ed. by D. Fraser and H. M. Cole, University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, 1972, p. 99.) Afikpo masks are quite rare because the vast majority of Afikpo masks were destroyed during colonial conflicts at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th centuries. An impressive and breathtaking example! Provenance: Ex-Adeon Gallery, Nick Poolos, Chicago, IL acquired before 1970. 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. #113222
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Estimate (low-high) : 1600 USD-3200 USD It's free to register now to view!

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