Gèlèdé mask, Nigeria, wood and mineral polychromy

Description

Gèlèdé mask, Nigéria (Egbado area), wood and mineral polychromy
H: 15 in W: 14,6 in
Mask from the ritual society Gèlèdé, illustrating the cult of “Mothers”, or witches. The ceremony is made up of two phases, the night dedicated to the representation of the deities and the day, dedicated to community celebrations, with diversified representations. This day mask, represents a male character performing a gymnastic movement of « bridge ». It could represent of a “ritual trance”.
First half of the 20th century.