Accession No

2014.288


Description

Igiri. Wooden mask with plaited raffia hairstyle secured by three nails and braided string. Facial features are highlighted in white, black and red pigment. To the reverse is an oval band of plaited fibre.


Place

Africa; West Africa; Nigeria; South Nigeria; Ebonyi State; Ehugbo [Afikpo]; Amasiri


Period


Source

Jones, Gwilym Iwan 'G.I.' [field collector]; Jones, Ursula [vendor]


Department

Anth


Reference Numbers

2014.288


Cultural Affliation


Material

Wood; Plant; Pigment; Fibre; Metal


Local Term

Igiri


Measurements

130mm x 110mm x 400mm


Events

Context (Production / use)
Worn annually at the Iko Okorelis festival November - January. Made by Okpara.
Event Date
Author: Jane Pettitt


Context (Production / use)
The object is labelled with an oblong blue label which reads [in blue ballpoint manuscript]: '1966 Afikpo Mask/Name Igiri For Iko Okorelis/festival - Nov. - Jan. yearly./Carver's name Okpara from/Amasiri.'
Event Date 4/6/2014
Author: Remke van der Velden


Context (References)
cf Publications by G.I. Jones: Jones, G. I., 1984. The Art of Eastern Nigeria. Cambridge: University of Cambridge Press.
Jones, G. I., 1989. Ibo Art. Shire Ethnography. Shire Publications.
Event Date 4/6/2014
Author: Remke van der Velden


Context (Field collection)
Gwilyam Iwan 'G.I.' Jones (1904 - 1995) was a colonial officer in southern Nigeria from 1926 to 1946, before becoming Lecturer in Social Anthropology at Cambridge and a Fellow of Jesus College. He undertook further periods of fieldwork and published major books on southern Nigeria that are still highly regarded for their sensitivity to historical complexity.
For more than twenty years, MAA has cared for Jones’ exceptionally rich photographic archive, which documents the great masquerade traditions and other aspects of the culture of the region. In February 2013 the Museum acquired part of Jones’ personal collection of artefacts, assembled over the decades he worked in Igboland, the Cross River and other regions. The group of masks, carvings and other works represent vital aspects of belief, history and art over the middle twentieth century.
The G.I. Jones collection of West African material was purchased on February 1 2014 from his widow Ursula Jones who generously allowed MAA to select from G.I’s personal collection in her home. Purchase funded partly through donations by Jesus College, John Goodliffe, Margaret Risbeth and the Wenbam Smith Family (as of June 3 2014).
Event Date 4/6/2014
Author: maa


Description (Physical description)
Mask, Igiri made of wood and raffia hairstyle secured with 3 nails and rope, made by Okpara. Plaited raffia around the edge of the mask. Worn annually at the Iko Okorelis festival November - January. Surfaces coloured white, black and red brow. Condition: Good.
Event Date 4/6/2014
Author: maa


Description (Physical description)
Igiri. Wooden mask with plaited raffia hairstyle secured by three nails and braided string. Facial features are highlighted in white, black and red pigment. To the reverse is an oval band of plaited fibre.
Event Date 29/9/2021
Author: Jane Pettitt


FM:267687

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