Gèlèdé Yoruba mask, Nigeria, wood, traces of mineral polychromy

Description

Gèlèdé Yoruba mask, Nigeria, wood, traces of mineral polychromy
W: 10,6 in H: 8,3 in
Mask from the Gèlèdé ritual society, 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 mask can “go out” during the two ceremonies. It illustrates the woman in general. It had to be associated with a costume evoking her exact role : it could represent a priestess
Early 20th century, ex-private collection Fournier (Montpellier) et Visser (Bruxelles)