Face Mask (Agbogho Mmuo)
Igbo
1850–1925
- Medium
- Wood and pigment
- Dimensions
- 62.3 × 20.4 × 26.7 cm (24 1/2 × 8 × 10 1/2 in.)
- Genre
- masks
- Museum
- Art Institute of Chicago
Styles
Tags
ritualpainting (coating)ceremonial maskfemaleyouthMaidenmaskswood (plant material)african Artarts of AfricaCoastal West Africacarvingidealigbopigment
About
The facial features and extravagant hairstyles of white-faced maiden masks evoke an ideal of youthful feminine beauty. The color white is associated with purity. Worn by men dressed in colorful appliquéd bodysuits, such spirit masks appear in groups at the annual Fame of Maidens festival and at funerals of respected elders, where they honor the deceased, entertain the public, and reiterate traditional values.
