The Cleveland Museum of Art
Collection Online as of April 26, 2024
Mask
c. 1930s
Overall: 56.5 cm (22 1/4 in.)
Gift of Katherine C. White 1973.222
Location: not on view
Description
Masks represent the incarnate dead among the Igbo. They perform at new year, harvest festivals, and funerals, where they serve to escort the spirit to the realm of the ancestors. This example unites the themes of feminine beauty and male strength into one powerful image. The white face, thin nose, small mouth, and delicate facial tattoos, epitomize the beauty of a young maiden. The two pairs of enormous horns are primary symbols of masculine courage.- CMA 1974: "Year in Review 1973," CMA Bulletin LXI (Feb., 1974), p. 73, no. 18, repr. p. 70.Year in Review: 1973. The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH (organizer) (January 30-March 17, 1974).CMA 1968: "African Tribal Images: The Katherine White Reswick Collection," cat. no. 155, repr.
- {{cite web|title=Mask|url=false|author=|year=c. 1930s|access-date=26 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}
Source URL:
https://www.clevelandart.org/art/1973.222