Gourd Mask

An unusual mask with obvious signs of good age. Leather over gourd and cloth. The long ‘mouth’ section is articulated and would make a clapping sound while being danced. The Lega and Igbo both used gourds as the base for masks, there are also some Tanzanian and Sudanese examples. This has some leather packets attached that could be ‘Gris,Gris’ and hold pages of the Koran, this would point to a geographic area including Mali and Nigeria. I can’t find any definite related types but I would guess it is Nigerian. Early 20th century.

45cm x 12cm x 6cm at the deepest part.

Nigeria?

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