Context (CMS Context)
Exhibited in the Micro Gallery MAA from 13 March 2013 - 19 May 2014 as a means to raise awareness and funding for the acquisition of the G.I. Jones Collection. The exhibition label for 2014.297 and 2014.293 reads: ' ‘Beautiful’ and ‘comic’ Lughulu masks Wood, camwood stain, kholin pigment and a glass button. Isu-Item Igbo. Probably Ugwueke Alayi town and Item town, Cross River area, Nigeria. Probably 1930s. The Lughulu masquerade was performed by the Item and Alayi groups but little is known about it. The characters wore two types of masks, beautiful, which were female and white-faced, or stained red/brown with camwood like this one: or ugly, which were white faced or stained black. These were considered comic rather than fierce as among the neighbouring Anang Ibibio.'
Event Date 4/6/2014
Author: Remke van der Velden

Context (CMS Context)
Object numbered on reverse [in white ink]: '26'. Square white label detached from the object reads [in blue ballpoint manuscript]: 'Ibo/Ugwu Eke/Alayi'.
Event Date 4/6/2014
Author: Remke van der Velden

Context (CMS Context)
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 (CMS Context)
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).
Featured in Jones, G.I., 1989. Ibo Art. Shire Ethnography. Shire Publications. P.16, no.8.

Event Date 4/6/2014
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Female spirit mask. Wood, brown face with black side projections in the shape of horns. White pointed teeth. A white button is attached to the right projection.Holes running along the edge of the mask possibly for raffia attachments. severe insect damage visible on reverse of mask in the chin area. The left projection is cracked. abrasions on nose. Several signs of insect damage throughout. Condition: Fair, several cracks on forehead and back of mask.
Event Date 4/6/2014
Author: maa

Description (Physical description)
Wooden mask. Female spirit mask. Human features with white pointed teeth, cut-out eyes and two arches projections from the top of the head, possibly a hairstyle. A white button is attached to the right projection. Holes running along the edge of the mask possibly for raffia attachments.
Event Date 22/9/2021
Author: Louise Puckett