Q: Mask itself is 13.5 x 8 x 4.5″ and came from an estate. The person purchased the mask in mid 1970’s from what appears to be a good quality dealer, based on the paperwork I also found. Thanks, Bob! Alan, 884
A: This is a rarity– a West African mask with no mouth. Exactly what culture it is from and what it is for, I have no idea. From the headdress down, all of the features remind me of different tribes, but from below the nose there is nothing. I hope one of the African art collectors will make a guess. This is something special, even if it turns out to be just an unusual tourist piece.
4 Comments
Sal Agrusa
This looks a lot like 2 masks that are on eBay right now.
http://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/141819194897
http://www.ebay.com/ulk/itm/141652775913
Both are said to be Ge Gon Dan masks from the Ivory Coast.
Bob Ibold
Thanks for your comment and the links. But let’s remember that Ge Gon means a bird mask with a very obvious beak. This mask has a human jaw with no sign of a mouth.
Eric
It’s an Ibibio mask, possibly Ekpo society.
The mouth is the pointed ‘beak’.
Bob Ibold
I apologize for the goof. If you look very closely you can that Eric is right about the long beak. Either Alan failed to send in a side view or I missed it. Thanks, Eric, for clearing this up.