IDNO

P.73774.GIJ

Description

A carved wooden figure for a head mask. The mask consists of a seated? or crouched figure with knees bent. The face is rounded with a high forehead with linear incisions, slit eyes, nose and an open mouth with teeth and a scalloped edging around the head of the face. The body shows two bent arms on the sides of the waist, a square torso, protruding umbilicus, penis and bent legs. The mask is dark wood decorated with lighter coloured dots.

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; Southeast Nigeria

Cultural Affliation

Igbo [historically Ibo]

Named Person

Photographer

Jones, Gwilliam Iwan (known as G.I.)

Collector / Expedition

Date

circa 1930 - 1939

Collection Name

Jones collection

Source

Jones, Gwilliam Iwan (known as G.I.)

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.73718.GIJ to P.73813.GIJ were kept in box 16, now numbered C334/.

Publication: Same image in Jones, 1984, p.150, Figure 56 with the caption recumbent figure.

Context: Jones describes the style of the western section of the Niger Delta and he writes that, “ In addition to the Owu type of masquerade the Sobo (Isoko) area was also famed for its Ekeleke type of masquerades in which the actors danced on stilts. This had diffused from the Isoko area to the Western Ibo and across to the Isuama Ibo of the Orlu division. By the time it had reached the last named the heads worn by the actors were in the Northern Ibo style. A Western Ibo example of a recumbent style is shown in Figure 56 (this photo) and is in the Kwale Isoko style.” (Jones, 1984, p.149)

Bibliographical Reference: Jones, G.I., 1984. The Art of Eastern Nigeria (Cambridge University Press)

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Alicia Fentiman 5/2/2008]