Menu
EUR
CAD
AUD
GBP
MXN
HKD
CNY
MYR
SEK
SGD
CHF
THBEarly 20th C. Nigerian Igbo Afikpo Wood Mask
Lot 122b
About Seller
Artemis Gallery
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Categories
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$1,500 - $2,200
Absentee vs Live bid
Two ways to bid:
- Leave a max absentee bid and the platform will bid on your behalf up to your maximum bid during the live auction.
- Bid live during the auction and your bids will be submitted real-time to the auctioneer.
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Gallery
Mar 4, 2021
Set Reminder
2021-03-04 10:00:00
2021-03-04 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Ancient | Ethnographic Art Through The Ages
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/ancient-ethnographic-art-through-the-ages-6467
Ancient art from Egypt, Greece, Italy and the Near East, as well as Asian, Fossils, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal / Oceanic, Fine art, and much more! All categories, all price ranges... all legally acquired and guaranteed to be as described or your money back. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
Ancient art from Egypt, Greece, Italy and the Near East, as well as Asian, Fossils, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal / Oceanic, Fine art, and much more! All categories, all price ranges... all legally acquired and guaranteed to be as described or your money back. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com
View Full Catalog (347)
- Lot Description
Africa, Nigeria, Igbo, Afikpo peoples, ca. early to mid 20th century CE. A finely carved and painted Mma Ji face mask traditionally used in Okumkpa performances in the Igbo village of Afikpo of southeastern Nigeria. The form presents with a tall forehead extension, three tubular projections jutting from the face, openwork eyes, and carved geometric patterning throughout, embellished with red, black, white and brown pigments. Natural woven fiber surrounds the visage and is attached via perforations along the periphery. According to Simon Ottenberg, Professor Emeritus of Anthropology at the University of Washington and former student of the famous Africanist Melville Herskovits at Northwestern University, the Mma Ji mask type is the most characteristic of the Afikpo masks. Mma Ji literally means "knife-yam" named for the machete-like form that surmounts the mask. Size: 4.75" W x 22" H (12.1 cm x 55.9 cm); 25" H (63.5 cm) on included custom stand.
Mma Ji masks like this example were created to be worn by older boys during Okumkpa performances. Okumkpa is a theatrical performance traditionally staged following the Dry Season Festival. It is not unusual for the performance to involve up to 100 masked male performers (both men and boys) all of whom sing, dance, and act a series of skits that are satirical and critical commentaries upon the lives of people living in the community. Once the performer dons the mask, he is transformed from human to spirit (mma). Masks like this example are associated with a deity of the egbele secret society; however, the spirit of the deity is not believed to reside within the mask but rather remains in the sacred bush. Instead, the mma is understood to be a manifestation of it.
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Eric Robertson collection, New York, USA
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#153304Intact and excellent with wear as shown to fiber backing due to tribal usage.Condition
- Shipping Info
-
All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Gallery will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please inquire BEFORE bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.
-
- Buyer's Premium
