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West Africa, Nigeria, Ibibio, ca. early 20th century CE. A finely-carved entertainment mask depicting an amusing black-painted visage with puffy cheeks and lips, a bulbous nose, carved rectangular eyes, and a tall forehead with a grooved nine-panel square in the center. The cheekbones are raised, perhaps indicative of ritual body modification. The Ibibio reside in small village groups and maintain social peace and order through the use of mask and figures that symbolize good and evil spirits. They have traditionally created two types of masks – those that represent evil spirits or individuals who have committed wrongdoings, known as Idiok Ekpo, and those that represent virtuous beings called Mfon Ekpo, like this example. Size: 7.375″ W x 11″ H (18.7 cm x 27.9 cm).
Condition: Age-commensurate surface wear, small chips to facial features and around peripheries, with some fading to pigmentation and insect damage, otherwise very good.
Provenance: ex-Adeon Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, USA acquired prior to 1970
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