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Face Mask (Agboho mmuo)
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This small face mask would have been complemented by a separate, elaborate superstructure covered with cotton cloth. Though always worn by a man, the image glorifies youthful female beauty. Derived from chalky clay, the white coloration of the face refers to ancestral spirits whose powers the mask evokes. The masks dance in festivals that generally celebrate the dead but also appear at funerals to escort the deceased to the land of the ancestors.
| Artist / Maker | Anonymous, Igbo-style maker |
|---|---|
| Date | possibly early 1900s |
| Culture / Origin | Africa, West Africa, Nigeria, Igbo-style maker |
| Medium | Wood, pigment, plant fiber, and cotton |
| Dimensions | Overall: 16.9 x 11 x 6 cm (6 5/8 x 4 5/16 x 2 3/8 in.) |
| Department | African Art |
| Type | Mask |
About the Artist
Provenance & Source
Image & data: Cleveland Museum of Art, CC0 / Public Domain.
Condition
A detailed condition report and high-resolution photography are available from our specialists in advance of the sale.
Shipping & Collection
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