Vintage Yoruba Egungun Head Crest Female Form Costume Patina Carved Wood 11"

Description

View Vintage Yoruba Egungun Head Crest Female Form Costume Patina Carved Wood 11" with current marketplace pricing, condition, product images and item details. Type: Rare Egungun society headcrest / complete masquerade upper section. Culture: African – Yoruba (Nigeria). Item specifics: Culture: African – Yoruba (Nigeria) Type: Rare Egungun society headcrest / complete masquerade upper section Style: Authentic old village-used female Egungun with original cloth costume Material: Carved hardwood head with thick ritual patina, hand-woven cotton textile costume in classic Ewe/Yoruba pattern Dimensions: 11 × 11 × 11 in (28 × 28 × 28 cm) – including draped costume Condition: Excellent old used – heavy encrusted patina on wood, extensive pigment wear (white eyes, red lips), stable age cracks, original costume shows fraying and fading consistent with decades of ceremonial use, completely authentic with no repairs Description A remarkable and complete old Yoruba Egungun headcrest from Nigeria – featuring the carved wooden head still wrapped in its original layered cloth costume, exactly as it would have appeared rising above the dancer during ancestral masquerades. This rare female form has a serene, idealized face with half-closed eyes highlighted in white pigment, scarification marks on the cheeks, and a finely carved traditional hairstyle swept upward. The costume is the classic multi-layered textile with bold geometric patterns in black, red, white, and blue – the type of hand-woven cloth reserved for important Egungun performances. Key features: Beautifully carved female face with remnants of white, yellow, and red pigment Elaborate coiffure with ridged carving Original costume draped over shoulders and body, pinned in traditional manner Heavy ritual patina from smoke, handling, and outdoor exposure Square base flange showing extensive wear from long-term use The wood has developed a deep, dark crust prized by collectors, while the costume shows honest fraying and fading that speak to decades of active ceremonial life. This is a genuine field-collected piece – the kind that almost never appears complete with its original textiles. Complete Egungun headcrests with costume are extremely rare outside museums and represent one of the most visually powerful forms in Yoruba art. A stunning, museum-quality example ready for immediate display – an exceptional addition to any serious collection of Yoruba masquerade or West African art. Important note: The wooden display stand shown in the photos is for illustration only and is NOT included in the sale. Condition: Used. Category: Collectibles › Cultures & Ethnicities › African › 1900-Now › Figures & Sculptures.

Provenance

Ownership History Not Available

Materials sourced from

Nigeria

Country of Origin

Nigeria

Culture

Yoruba

Handmade

Yes