About this artwork
For the Igbo, masquerade is an important means of communing with influential spirits, enforcing order, and expressing social values. This remarkable Time of the Brave mask has menacing teeth and horns and a towering headdress of interlocking snakes, monkeys, antelopes, and humans. Worn with a costume hung with quills, grasses, and seedpod rattles, the mask embodies a wilderness spirit that is aggressive, brash, powerful, and stubborn. Rival masquerade troupes stage competitive performances of their Time of the Brave masks that test the endurance and supernatural strength of each mask and its supporters.
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Arts of Africa
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Culture
- Igbo
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Title
- Time of the Brave Mask (Mgbedike)
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Place
- Nigeria (Object made in)
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Date
- 1900–1975
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Medium
- Wood and pigment
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Dimensions
- H.: 83.8 cm (33 in.)
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Credit Line
- Purchased with funds provided by Cynthia and Terry E. Perucca
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Reference Number
- 2008.175
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.
