Mask of the Eket

Nigeria, 25 cm (10")

The Eket, an ethnic group closely related to the Ibibio, inhabit southeastern Nigeria and possess a distinctive and significant artistic tradition. As early as the late 19th century, Christian missionaries entered the region and actively opposed traditional religious beliefs and ritual practices. Numerous sacred sites and ritual objects were destroyed in the process. It is therefore all the more remarkable that individual objects from this ancient cultural tradition have survived.
The present circular mask is an impressive testament to this increasingly rare artistic heritage. Its surface is covered with a pronounced encrusted patina, lending it a particularly archaic and evocative appearance.
At the centre of a double circular motif is a small mask-like face, carved with exceptional skill. Above it is a further, shallow circular element decorated with seven rounded, hollowed-out bosses. In the lower section, two loop-shaped ornaments terminating in pointed ends complete the unusual composition. The outer edge is framed by a continuous V-shaped pattern, effectively emphasising the strictly geometric character of the design.
The hollowed interior bears traces suggesting that the mask was used in ritual ceremonies.
The extraordinary combination of geometric ornamentation, finely carved facial features, and an impressive encrusted patina lends this rare object particular artistic and ethnographic significance.

Provenance: Miquel Porta, Spain; Gerhard F. Vesely, Austria.

Estimate: € 1900 - 2400