Headdress Item Number: Af478 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
An all black Janus headdress; one of the heads has a multi-peg headdress, clean-shaven, open mouth revealing filed teeth, protruding lips, ears, eyes, short nose, and a vertical ridge high on the forehead. Second head has matted hair, beard, and other features similar to first. Both heads supported by a common neck merging into a round base. Skin covering wrinkled and broken in several places, revealing wood. Base hollow, interior painted black.
History Of Use
Skin covered Janus 'masks' were used by the Ekpo secret society, which was divided into 6 or 7 ranks. Certain masks indicate the rank of the members of the society. These masks or headdresses were worn on the hood of a dancers costume, sometimes held on by a basketry cap.
Cultural Context
Worn by male dancers.
Item History
- Made in Nigeria
- Collected before 1980
- Owned by E. M. Von Kaldenberg before July 28, 1980
- Received from Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source) and E. M. Von Kaldenberg (Seller) on July 28, 1980
What
Who
- Culture
- Ekoi
- Previous Owner
- E. M. Von Kaldenberg
- Received from
- Museum of Anthropology Shop Volunteers (Funding source) and E. M. Von Kaldenberg (Seller)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Nigeria
When
- Collection Date
- before 1980
- Ownership Date
- before July 28, 1980
- Acquisition Date
- on July 28, 1980
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 0640/0015