Maskette for the case - Igbo / Ibo - Nigeria






A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 137988 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Masquette de case, an Igbo wooden mask from Nigeria, made of wood, with dimensions 315 mm high, 150 mm wide and 95 mm deep.
Description from the seller
Nigeria
Igbo / Ibo
Wood
Height: 315 mm
Width: 150 mm
Depth: 95 mm
Geographic and cultural origin
People: Igbo (or Ibo).
Region: South-east Nigeria (region of the Niger and Cross River valleys).
Stylistic characteristics: This mask is remarkable for its elongated face coated with white kaolin, a classic feature of Igbo aesthetics that symbolizes the spirit world and the ancestors. The dark lines emphasize the brow ridges, the fine nose and mouth, while a carved bird atop the headdress, adorned with dark fibers, crowns it.
Usage and ritual function
The Maiden Spirit concept (Agbogho Mmuo): Although forms vary, the use of white kaolin is very often associated with female spirits or deceased young girls during masquerade festivals. The masks celebrate beauty, purity, and the spiritual link with the beyond.
The house or altar mask: Its internal structure (visible on the back of the piece) shows a deep hollow but overall dimensions are often smaller or adapted to be hung. Beyond the ritual dances performed by initiated men, these masks could serve as protective masks fixed in family shrines or meeting houses to honor the ancestors and attract their blessings to the home.
The bird as a symbol: The avian figure placed at the top is a recurring motif in Nigerian art. It often evokes the messenger between the world of the living and that of the spirits, or the spiritual clairvoyance needed to outwit sorcery.
Parcels are sent from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking number. Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union. Delivery in the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
We speak english
Mask african art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
Seller's Story
Nigeria
Igbo / Ibo
Wood
Height: 315 mm
Width: 150 mm
Depth: 95 mm
Geographic and cultural origin
People: Igbo (or Ibo).
Region: South-east Nigeria (region of the Niger and Cross River valleys).
Stylistic characteristics: This mask is remarkable for its elongated face coated with white kaolin, a classic feature of Igbo aesthetics that symbolizes the spirit world and the ancestors. The dark lines emphasize the brow ridges, the fine nose and mouth, while a carved bird atop the headdress, adorned with dark fibers, crowns it.
Usage and ritual function
The Maiden Spirit concept (Agbogho Mmuo): Although forms vary, the use of white kaolin is very often associated with female spirits or deceased young girls during masquerade festivals. The masks celebrate beauty, purity, and the spiritual link with the beyond.
The house or altar mask: Its internal structure (visible on the back of the piece) shows a deep hollow but overall dimensions are often smaller or adapted to be hung. Beyond the ritual dances performed by initiated men, these masks could serve as protective masks fixed in family shrines or meeting houses to honor the ancestors and attract their blessings to the home.
The bird as a symbol: The avian figure placed at the top is a recurring motif in Nigerian art. It often evokes the messenger between the world of the living and that of the spirits, or the spiritual clairvoyance needed to outwit sorcery.
Parcels are sent from Monday to Saturday with insurance and tracking number. Delivery in 1 to 3 days in France via Chronopost, 2 to 5 days across the European Union. Delivery in the rest of Europe and worldwide via Colissimo International.
We speak english
Mask african art Afrikanische Maskenkunst arte de máscaras africanas arte delle maschere africane
statue african art Arte de estatuas africanas arte delle statue africane Afrikanische Maskenkunst
Máscara de estatua de galería de arte africano
