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Face Mask (Agbogho Mmuo)

A work made of wood and pigment.

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  • A work made of wood and pigment.

Date:

Late 19th or early 20th century

Artist:

Igbo
Nigeria
Coastal West Africa

About this artwork

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.

Status

On View, Gallery 137

Department

Arts of Africa

Culture

Igbo

Title

Face Mask (Agbogho Mmuo)

Place

Nigeria (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1850–1925

Medium

Wood and pigment

Dimensions

H.: 71.2 cm (28 in.)

Credit Line

Cora Abrahamson, Gladys N. Anderson, Harriett A. Fox, and Simeon B. Williams endowments

Reference Number

1994.315

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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