Antique/ Vintage African Ekoi Ekpo Society Ancestor Crest Mask

Description

Antique Vintage African Crest Mask Igbo Field Collected. Condition is "Used".
Thank you for stopping by our listing ! Be sure and take a moment to browse through our other auctions and listings — we were fortunate to go on an extensive buying trip at the end of summer and early Fall of ‘19. Not only do we Source at the big markets in Paris, Avignon and Arezzo , but we also haunt the back roads and forgotten villages of Europe to offer up the unique one of a kind finds! Always and never dull!
We’ve also been sourcing right here in Southern California where the local estates sales.
Offered today is an interning find from the estate of a university professors- a personally “field collected” African ancestor mask from the Ekoi peoples of Northern Nigeria and Cameroon.
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Most Ekoi masks take the form of a helmet or crest that sits atop the head. Unlike the masks of other African peoples, Ekoi masks are covered in antelope leather. In the distant past, the skin of killed slaves was used, but now antelope leather is common. Ancestor spirit masks such as these are used by the Ekpo Society, are worn at funerals and other secret society rituals. In the rituals, ceremonial plays known as Ikem (“sharing one heart and mind”) are performed to venerate the ancestors. The mask is fixed to the dancer’s head and adorned with raffia fiber to hide the dancer’s face and body. ( Museum of Masks)
The current example offered was acquired sometime between 1980 and 1992. It is presented in original condition and is understood to have been used in the field . The wicker base has some damage , there are some portions of the leather covering that have slight curling .
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