Vintage Yoruba Egungun Headdress Mask White Kaolin Carved Wood Fabric Danced 10"

Description

View Vintage Yoruba Egungun Headdress Mask White Kaolin Carved Wood Fabric Danced 10" with current marketplace pricing, condition, product images and item details. It is a powerful object with a tangible sense of history. Culture: Yoruba (Nigeria / Benin). White Kaolin Surface: The heavy application of white clay signifies the character's spectral nature and connection to the afterlife. Item specifics: Culture:  Yoruba (Nigeria / Benin) Type:  Egungun Ancestral Crest Headdress Original/Reproduction:  Original, Ritual/Danced Context Material:  Carved wood, thick Kaolin (white clay), Camwood (red pigment), Indigo, Fabric/Fiber collar Dimensions:  10" H x 7" W x 5.5" D Condition:  Authentic danced condition – exhibits heavy ritual patina with encrusted, cracking pigment, and significant age wear to the attached fabric collar at the base. Description  A spiritually charged and visually distinct Yoruba Egungun headdress, measuring 10 inches in height. Unlike the previous red-pigmented examples, this piece is defined by a thick, encrusted application of white kaolin clay, a color deeply associated with the spirit world, purity, and the realm of the ancestors in Yoruba cosmology. The sculpture features a striking, textured crest that sweeps backward and to the side, painted in dark indigo or black which contrasts vividly against the white face. The visage is marked by intense red striations (scarification) on the cheeks and forehead, giving the spirit a vibrant, almost vibrating appearance. Uniquely, this example retains an original fabric or fiber roll attached to the base, a remnant of the attachment method used to secure the wooden crest to the masquerader's elaborate fabric costume. Key design elements: White Kaolin Surface:  The heavy application of white clay signifies the character's spectral nature and connection to the afterlife. Attached Fabric Collar:  A rare survival of the original costuming, the fabric roll at the neck adds undeniable authenticity to its ritual history. Polychrome Scarification:  Deep red linear marks ( abaja ) cut through the white clay on the cheeks, emphasizing lineage and power. Textured Coiffure:  The hair is carved with deep grooves and pigmented dark, creating a dramatic frame for the face. This piece offers a different aesthetic within the Egungun tradition, focusing on the "white spirit" aspect of the masquerade. It is a powerful object with a tangible sense of history. Condition: Used. Category: Collectibles › Cultures & Ethnicities › African › 1900-Now › Figures & Sculptures.

Culture

Yoruba

Handmade

Yes

Provenance

Ownership History Not Available

Country of Origin

Nigeria

Material

Wood

Type

Headdress

Height

10 in

Materials sourced from

Nigeria