CENTRAL AFRICA:  map

Map

Chokwe Pwo mask. So. Congo. 9”H. Wood, raffia, camwood, pearls, coins fur, husk.

Choke mwanapwo mask. Congo. Wood, paint, rattan.

Φ Kuba Mukenga helmet mask (Mwaash a mbooy). Wood, beads, cowrie shells, feathers, hair, skin, fibers, metal. 27 2/3”H. Congo. NWA 17

Kuba Bwoom mask. Wood, sheet copper, beads, shells, hide. 13”H.

Kuba King Kot-a-Mbweeky III in state dress. 1971. Congo.

Ngady a Mwash  mask. Kuba. Congo. Bef. 1917. Wood, raffia, cloth, beads, shells. 15” H

Kuba cloth with cut-pile embroidery. L. 19^th-20^th C. Raffia. 50 X 19 3/8”

Kuba beaten barkcloth. Barkcloth, raffia, European cloth. 58 ½”X 27 ½”. Late 19^th – early 20^th C. 

NORTHWEST AFRICA

Map: NW Africa

Map: Lower NW Africa

Nigeria: Nok head. 5^th CBCE. 14”H

Φ Nigeria: Nok Head. 5^th CBC.

Terracotta. 9 7/8” H. ABW 2.10, NWA 4

Nigeria: Nok male, female figures. 28” 23”. terracotta

Nigeria: Nok figure. 4.2”H

Φ Nigeria: Head of a King (Oni) from Ife. 11^th-12^th C. Brass, zinc. 12 ¼” H ABW 2.11

Another view

Nigeria: Ife. Copper mask.  12^th-13^th C. 13” H

Φ Nigeria: Head of a King (Oni) from Ife. 12^th-14^th C. Bronze. 14 ½”H.ABW2.11

ΦSee also NWA 8

Φ Nigeria: Yoruba: Ruler of Orangun-Ila, Airowayoye I. Beaded scepter, crown, veil, footstool. 1977. ABW 2.12

Nigeria: Yoruba Ruler. 1984

The great crown. Wickerwork, fabric, beads. 3 tiers of ancestor faces, birds.

Nigeria: Yoruba. Ife. Terra Cotta head. 11^th-12^thC. 6 ¼”H

Nigeria: Yoruba. Ife. Terra Cotta head. 15^th-16^thC. 6 ¾”H

Ga’anda: hleeta female scarification patterns.

Ga’anda: facial markings on chief of Kamo’s wife. 1982

Ilesha, So. Nigeria. Bowl in form of kneeling woman. 1880s. 11 ½”

Another view

Φ Nigeria: Yoruba. Twin figures. ere ibeji. See NWA 11 

Nigeria: Yoruba. Ere ibeji

Nigeria: Benin. 1666 illustration. ABW 2.16

Φ Nigeria: Benin: altar dedicated to Oba Ovanramwen. 1914. ABW 2.15

Nigeria: Benin. Head for royal altar. 15^th–16^th C. Brass, iron. 8 ¼”H

Stylistic chronology of brass heads

Oba head, bronze. Mid 17^th C.

Another view

Φ  Iyoba (queen mother) head. E. 16^th C. bronze. ABW 2.16

Similar example.

Iyoba Head. 18^th–19^th C. 

Another example. Cast copper alloy, iron.  21” H

Oba Head. 18^thC.

Oba Head. 18^th-19^th C.

Oba Akenzua II. King of Benin 1933-78, wearing coral and ivory regalia

Ivory Iyoba mask – belt pendant. 1550

Benin: Mme. Agbonavbare in ritual dress dec. w. cowrie shells, seated bef. Olokun shrine. ABW 2.17

Bocio  power figure. Benin. L. 19^th C. 9”H. wood, iron, brass, cloth. Carlos

Ibibio. Mama Wata shrine figure. 20^th C. wood, kaolin, pigment, paint. 34½” H. Carlos.   

Benin: bronze hornblower. 16^th–18^th C.  24 7/8” H.

Benin: bronze Portuguese soldier. 16^th C.  15” H.

Another

Benin: brass plaque: general and officers. 1550-1650

Φ Benin: bronze plaque: Oba on horseback. 16^th -17^th C. 19 ½”H  NWA 9

Nigeria: Yoruba. Olowe of Ise. Lintel.

Φ Nigeria: Yoruba. Olowe of Ise. Palace doors, Ikere. 1910-14. wood. 6’H  ABW2.18

Nigeria: Yoruba. Olowe of Ise: palace door. 20^th C. 87” W. wood, paint

Nigeria: Yoruba. Olowe of Ise: palace door, Ikere. 72”H

Φ Nigeria: Yoruba. Olowe of Ise: veranda post, Ogoga of Ikere palace. Enthroned Oba Ogoga. 1910-14. wood, pigment. 12 ½” H. NWA 12

Similar in situ

Yoruba Veranda post at Obo Aiyegunie. Wood.

Yoruba houseposts at Benin. Gift to Oni of Ife, 1938. 58”, 60”

Nigeria: Yoruba. Olowe of Ise: Veranda posts at Palace at Ise, 1908

Nigeria: Ijaw culture. Memorial screen. 19^th C. wood, raffia. 25-16

Ijaw. Ancestor screen. Wood, split vegetal fiber, paint, textile. 45 ½”H

Nigeria: Igbo mbari house, Owerri. 1982 photo. ABW 2.19

Igbo ikenga power figure. Wood, paint

Yoruba Shango (thunder god) shrine. 1910

Yoruba diviner’s bag.

Yoruba Ifa cup

Yoruba Ifa tray

Ibibio Ekpo mask. 25-13

Igbo masking festival. 1960

Igbo female ghost spirit mask.

Igbo bronze head pendants. 3”

Nigeria: Cross River region. Crest mask

Nigeria: Ogoni Mask headdress. 20^th C. wood, bamboo, pigment. 20”H. Carlos

Benin gelede bird mask. 1987

Φ Yoruba gelede ritual/costumes. ABW 1.1

Efe gelede headdress. Wood, pigment. Carlos

Igbo Maiden Spirit headdress masks. Carlos

Nigeria: Yoruba: Dance staff w. image of Eshe. 20^th C. 25-10