West Africa, Nigeria, Edo (Bini) people, Ekpo society, ca. early 20th century CE. A beautiful hand-carved wood mask presenting a stylized visage and a pair of curved horns, all adorned in white and black pigments. The fine vizard displays downcast, slanted eyes with slits allowing the wearer to see, a flat nose with flared nostrils, and a petite pair of lips held slightly open, all flanked by 2 high-set ears. The horns rise tall above the mask, sprouting from a helmet-form headdress, which held in place by a raised chinstrap. Incised vertical striations decorate the strap. The periphery of the verso is lined with several small drill holes, allowing the mask to be strapped to the costume of its wearer. Size: 6.7" W x 18.5" H (17 cm x 47 cm); 23.5" H (59.7 cm) on included custom stand.

Such long curved horns are regarded as quite a beautiful element of the Edo aesthetic and "azigho" is a special praise name applied to animals that exhibit this trait. This mask is most likely an azigho mask, a type usually used in the Ekpo cult healing rituals. The Ekpo society oversees the welfare of the village and settle disputes. Ekpo members don masks, raffia costumes, and other accouterments to impersonate their ancestors. The Ekpo society also performs rituals for planting, harvesting (in particular the yam harvest), and funerals.

This piece has been searched against the Art Loss Register database and has been cleared. The Art Loss Register maintains the world's largest database of stolen art, collectibles, and antiques.

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Konietzko collection, Hamburg, Germany

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#167946

Expected surface wear with a few small chips, as well as nicks and abrasions, all commensurate with age and use. Otherwise, excellent with nice patina and great remaining pigments.