Description (Physical description)
Mask (igbodu). This is a plain heavy wood mask, coloured black. There are holes around the lower edges for the attachment of a raffia curtain. There are also two holes on each side, one on the crest and one in the middle of the 'shoulder'. Probably something was to be inserted into these.

Event Date
Author: maa

Context (Auction / Sale)
Purchased using money from Prof. A.A. Bevan’s subscription to the Museum’s Accessions Fund.
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Related Documents)
Stump of a luggage tag attached with string, no writing remains.
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Related Documents)
Thomas/Bevan label attached with string reads: 'T.C.2664 / HEAD-DRESS'
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

Description (Labels & Markings)
Written on side of mask in pencil: '2664'
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring

Context (Field collection)
Collected by Northcote W. Thomas in Edo State, Fuga(r) (now Anvianwu) town. The inhabitants belong to the Edo ethnic group, and also identify themselves further as Avianwu people. The language they speak is also referred to as Yekhee. See Blench, R. M., 1995. The Work of N.W. Thomas as Government Anthropologist in Nigeria. The Nigerian Field, 60, pp.29.

Event Date
Author: Remke van der Velden

Context (Related Documents)
Photo on reverse of catalogue card.

Event Date
Author: maa

Context (Related Documents)
See E 1910.118 and E 1913.3 records for further details about the Thomas Collection from Nigeria. [T.Cotterill]
Event Date 7/5/2001
Author: Katrina Dring

Description (Physical description)
Large crack extending from edge to top of crest. Small crack on base. Insect damage. [R.Hand]
Event Date 8/6/2001
Author: Katrina Dring

Description (Physical description)
Dark wooden mask. Heavily schematised. It represents a human head and is a head mask. Holes have been created along its base to suspend fibres from. The mask consists of a large round base from which an ovoid protrusion rises flanked on each side by smaller semi circular protrusions. The central shape starts in the middle of the head and ends in a pointed nose. The forms are well defined and reminiscent of cubism. There are only three basic shapes in the total mask. Raised triangles are visible on the each of the flanks. Holes are present on both rounded sides and near the top of the central segment two rounded holes have been made. The mask has weathered and a wide split is visible on the left side.
[Information provided by Dr Ohioma Pogoson, Honorary Curator of the Museum of the Institute for African Studies, University of Ibadan, Nigeria. January 2013.]
Event Date 29/1/2013
Author: maa

Context (Amendments / updates)
Record updated as part of the Museum Affordances project 2018-2020

Event Date 1/11/2018
Author: Katrina Dring

Description (Physical description)
Carved wooden helmet crest mask in an abstract bird-like form. The overall shape is cylindrical at the base, with a tapering central crest. One end of the crest extends into a point at the ?front of the mask and may represent a beak. At either side of the crest, the cylinder rises to a shoulder and has a triangular shape carved in relief on the side. A hole has been drilled into each shoulder and one either side of the top of the crest. There are holes drilled around the hollowed base of the mask, some of which retain small pieces of string in them. The whole mask appears to be stained with a dark pigment. There is a very large vertical crack which seems to have resin on the inner edges. Small areas of damage to the edges of the crest and mask.
Event Date 1/11/2018
Author: Katrina Dring

Description (Physical description)
Igbodu or carved wooden helmet crest mask with abstract bird-like form. Cylindrical with a tapering central crest which extends into a point at the front of the mask and may represent a beak; at either side of the crest, the cylinder rises to a shoulder and has a triangular shape carved in relief on the side; holes drilled around the base for attachment of costume. One large crack from the base through the crest.
Event Date 28/9/2021
Author: Katrina Dring