Mask - Nigeria (No reserve price)

Mask of the Igbo spirit of a young Igbo girl, but still worn by young men during harvest festivals or celebrations associated with the earth spirit, this African mask adopts conventions symbolizing, according to the Igbo, beauty and youth, a fine face whitened. The white refers to ancestral spirits; these masks frequently accompany the deceased during funerary rites. Indeed, mmwo means "spirit of the dead". Matte patina, abrasions, very slight nicks along the contours.: . living in the forest in the southeast of Niger They have managed to associate a deep sense of individuality with an equally strong feeling of belonging to the group. Their political system is complex and little known. The village constitutes the most important social unit.