Mama Mangam Bush Cow Mask Nigeria African Art

Description

Title
Mama Mangam Bush Cow Mask Nigeria African Art
Type of Object
Mask
Country of Origin
Nigeria
People
Mama
Materials
Wood, pigment
Approximate Age
20th century
Height (in)
22
Width (in)
7
Depth (in)
9
Overall Condition
Good. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners.   Small splits, scrapes and cracks are a normal part of their patina attesting to their age and extensive use.  We examine each piece carefully when we receive it and report any damage we find in our listings.  Please look carefully at the pictures which may also reveal condition and damage.
Damage/Repair
Chips.
Additional Information
:
Mangam head crests like this come from the Mama people of northern Nigeria in the Benue River Valley. Mangam  mask represents a bush cow with open extended mouth and with marvelously sculpted horns that extend upwards in a continuous single line to be joined at their ends. When worn it is carried on the top of the dancer's head who is surrounded with a ruff of grasses extending from the bottom of the mask that hides the dancer. Mangam masks dance during festivals celebrating funerals and during the yearly agricultural cycle. Mangam masks of this quality and condition rarely come onto the market and this mask or head crest modeled in clay represents a tradition that is rarely seen today. The uniqueness and present condition of this head crest warrants a strong presence within a collection and should be placed in a museum collection.
Recommended Reading:
Sieber, R. & Tony Vevers, “Interaction: the art styles of the Benue River Valley and East Nigeria”. 1974.
Sieber, Roy. Sculpture of Northern Nigeria, 1961
**132107**
All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2021
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