Igala mask - Lot 17

Igala mask Benue River, Nigeria Wood H. 42 cm Provenance: - Former Pierre Amrouche collection, France/Togo The Igala are established in Nigeria, on the left bank of the Niger River, south of its confluence with the Benoue. Governed by a king called ata, their kingdom reached its apogee in the 17th and 18th centuries, as early travelers' accounts attest. The Igala organized major annual festivals, during which masks played an important role. There were several categories: the egwu afia was used to give body to the ancestors, while the egwu ata was closely linked to the royal person. Most helmets and crests were used in masquerades linked to local history. This object stands out for its remarkable play of volumes and the finesse of its features. The stylized face is topped by an elegant, roundly sculpted headdress. The forehead is embellished with a succession of vertical incisions echoing those on the headdress. The eyebrows are pointed, the eyelids skilfully embossed.