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African & Tribal Art :
Yoruba Masks : Yoruba Wooden Headdress Mask
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Yoruba Wooden Headdress Mask - PF.5915
Origin: Nigeria
Circa: 20
th
Century AD
Dimensions:
14" (35.6cm) high
Collection: African
Medium: Wood
$6,000.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
Originally, this mask would have been worn atop
the head like a crown. Either a cloth or raffia veil
would have covered the face of the wearer and
disguised his identity. This mask is a
representation of a beautiful female. The
decorative scars along her forehead and cheeks
are representative of her stunning beauty and
also identify her as a member of the Yoruba
tribe. Her hair has been elegantly gathered into
three large nodules in addition to several small
knobs and a braided tail in the back that
connects the two side knobs. This fantastic
coiffure further emphasized this woman’s
extraordinary beauty. There is a mysterious
quality that pervades this work as revealed by
the alligator that has crawled upon the top of the
central knob. What is the relation between this
animal and the woman? Perhaps it is symbolic of
the woman’s strength and power. The most
splendid feature of this mask, besides the
woman’s piercing gaze, is the sumptuous
adornments. Actual beaded necklaces have been
attached to her neck, not carved replicas, as is
generally the case. In addition, fragments of
shells have been imbedded into her collar,
further embellishing her beauty and elegance.
Shells were of particular value to tribal Africans
and in some tribes functioned as a form of
currency. Overall, this mask can be
characterized by a love of adornments that
beautify both the mask itself and the idealized
woman it honors.
- (PF.5915)
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