light-weighted wood, mat black patina, white paint, real hair, nearly naturalistic features, vaulted lids with painted pupils flanking a flat nose with a diamond-shaped mouth underneath, min. dam., fine cracks, small missing parts, slight signs of abrasion, base;
"lipiko" masks appeared at initiation celebrations. They were worn by the young initiates "vaali" at the "mapiko" masquerade. They depict woman rather than men and were kept in special sacred mask houses outside the village. Women were not allowed to see them.
H: 27 cm, H: 10,6 inch
Provenance:
Vera und Wolfgang Nerlich, Munich, Germany
Lit.: Fenzl, Kristian, Makonde, Linz 1997, p. 52, ill. 75 f.
Continent: Africa

See description