Mask - Gabon (No reserve price)

Gabon. Africa.





Elongated masks like this one were worn by members of the clergy and judiciary belonging to a secret society called Ngil. They hunted down and punished witches, wrongdoers, and outlaws, and served as mediators between rival clans and villages. Judgments were delivered during magical ceremonies where masks were worn.

The Ngil generally wore masks during judgment pronouncements for a heightened dramatic effect. These masks were typically elongated, covered in kaolin (white, soft clay), and decorated with a border and dark details (such as the nose on it).

As simple as this mask may seem, it is associated with death… a typical sentence pronounced against accused witches.