A wooden mask - Vabo - Mumuye - Nigeria (No reserve price)

Mumuye Vabo Mask - Adamawa Region, Nigeria, incl stand. Carved from wood, this mask condenses animal and abstract forms into a dynamic composition. A powerful, domed skull is enclosed by angular, overlapping surfaces and arched ribs. The most striking feature is the widely projecting, tube-like opening, whose meticulously crafted rim lends the object an almost architectural quality. A second, downward-sloping extension further enhances the dynamic silhouette. The dark brown, in places blackish, surface displays reddish wood grain, wear, and traces of long use. The interplay of solid volumes and deep cavities gives the mask a haunting, enigmatic presence. The Mumuye people live in northeastern Nigeria, particularly in the upper Benue region and the wider historical Adamawa area. Their mask traditions encompass zoomorphic and hybrid forms that blend human and animal characteristics. Similar Va or Vabo masks were used in initiations, memorial services, and communal ceremonies. The precise identity of the being depicted and the original function of this mask remain unclear without a confirmed performance context. Literature (selection): Richard Fardon: Fusions: Masquerades and Thought Style East of the Niger-Benue Confluence, West Africa. London 2007. Marla C. Berns / Richard Fardon / Sidney Littlefield Kasfir (eds.): Central Nigeria Unmasked: Arts of the Benue River Valley. Los Angeles 2011. Some of the information and photos are generated by artificial intelligence and is based on published sources from the fields of ethnography, archaeology, and art history documents. All information and photos are protected by copyright. Inv. No. MAZ30016 Informant: Petit Coulibaly

Estimate:$280.11

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