Mask

Accession Number
1983/2.168

Title
Mask

Artist(s)
Eket; Ibibio

Object Creation Date
1900-1983

Medium & Support
wood and pigment

Dimensions
23 3/4 in x 11 5/8 in x 1 9/16 in (60.33 cm x 29.53 cm x 3.97 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Dale E. Rice

Subject matter
Round masks are most often associated with the Eket peoples, a subgroup of Ibibio peoples who live in what is today southeastern Nigeria. Round masks with a small face were danced at agricultural festivals and at funerals of Ekong society members. Some masks have two faces, one above the other, while some have superstructures, as in the case of this one. 

References Cited: 
Cole, Herbert M. 2012. Invention and Tradition: The Art of Southeastern Nigeria. Munich: Prestel. 

Physical Description
Circular mask with a round face in the center and a circular superstructrure. The eyes are cresent-shaped and the forehead and outer edge of the face are raised. The edge of the mask is decorated with alternating semi-circles in yellow and black pigment. The face of the mask is yellow with a dark marquise shaped mark in the center of the forehead. Above the central face is an open circle intersected by a vertical bar decorated with a spiral design. At the very top of the circle is a diamond-shaped projection. 

Primary Object Classification
Sculpture

Primary Object Type
mask

Collection Area
African

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
agriculture
funerals
harvest festivals
masquerades

& Author Notes

Web Use Permitted