Mask Item Number: Af499 from the MOA: University of British Columbia
Description
Oval-shaped wood piece with the back hollowed out. Human face. Worn white painted surface with red spots showing through. Dyed blue are the long, incised crescent lines for the eyebrows, the inside of the mouth, and one line from the nose to the mouth. Blue spots in other facial areas. Wood of cheek and eye areas has been cut away. Lozenge-shaped eyes, and mouth open to underside. Mouth at rim of cut-away area is asymmetrical to nose. Two articulated wedge-shaped wood pieces nailed, one at each temple. Drilled holes in head and forehead for feathers now missing. Holes, one on each temple has twisted synthetic cord strung between them. Knotted brown shoelace(?) piece in hole on left.
Iconographic Meaning
Source states that the mask is a spirit, and the asymmetrical mouth represents facial paralysis.
Cultural Context
ceremonial
Item History
- Made in Nigeria ? before 1965
- Collected during 1965
- Owned by Saja Tunkara
- Owned by Alan R. Sawyer and Erika H. Sawyer before December 19, 1980
- Received from Alan R. Sawyer (Donor) and Erika H. Sawyer (Donor) on December 19, 1980
What
- Name
- Mask
- Identification Number
- Af499
- Type of Item
- mask
- Material
- wood, paint, synthetic fibre, cotton fibre, iron metal and indigo pigment
- Manufacturing Technique
- carved, incised, knotted, hammered and painted
- Overall
- height 22.0 cm, width 12.8 cm, depth 5.5 cm
Who
- Culture
- Igbo
- Previous Owner
- Saja Tunkara, Alan R. Sawyer and Erika H. Sawyer
- Received from
- Alan R. Sawyer (Donor) and Erika H. Sawyer (Donor)
Where
- Holding Institution
- MOA: University of British Columbia
- Made in
- Nigeria ?
When
- Creation Date
- before 1965
- Collection Date
- during 1965
- Ownership Date
- before December 19, 1980
- Acquisition Date
- on December 19, 1980
Other
- Condition
- fair
- Accession Number
- 0691/0010