Yoruba Gelede Mask

This mask, which would have been worn over the head like a helmet, is made to be used in the Gelede dance performance. This dance celebrates the power of the primordial mother and appeases spiritual forces.

The face of this carved wood Gelede mask was painted predominantly white, with the exception of the eyes and the back of the mask painted with blue pigment. The eye outlines were dark and the pupils have holes, which are not for seeing, but for the Great Spirit to enter and come to life. The mask has a typical headdress: a ribbed chevron female hairstyle (often a signifier of where someone comes from). The back of the mask has traces of blue paint.

Date: 19th/20th Century
Origin: Yoruba tribe
Country: Nigeria
Material: Wood
Dimensions :

Surface wear with scuffs and abrasions commensurate with age and use. The wood has developed a warm eroded patina of colored white and blue pigments resulting from age and use.