Africa’s greatest mask

This Benin ivory mask is a sculptural portrait in ivory of Idia, (Queen Mother) of the 16th century Benin Empire. Two almost identical masks are kept at the British Museum in London and at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Both feature a serene face of the Queen Mother wearing a beaded headdress, a beaded choker at her neck, scarification highlighted by iron inlay on the forehead, and all framed by the flange of an openwork tiara and collar of symbolic beings, as well as double loops at each side for attachment of the pendant. There are also examples on the same theme at the Seattle Art Museum and the Linden Museum, and one in a private collection, all taken during the British Benin Expedition of 1897. From Wikipedia

All of the Benin masks mentioned above qualify as great art, but there are some small differences in each. We have already posted this one. The second mask is also authentic and about the same age. You can find lots of information on these fabulous masks with Google. Bob, 1693, A+