Gelede Yoruba crest mask, Nigeria - Lot 158

Gelede Yoruba crest mask, Nigeria The Gelede country in Nigeria pays homage to mothers, particularly the oldest among them, whose powers are said to be comparable to those of the Yoruba gods, ouorisa , and the ancestors, osi , and can be used for the benefit but also for the misfortune of society. In the latter case, these women are called aje . Masked ceremonies, through performances using masks, costumes and dances, are meant to urge mothers to use their extraordinary qualities in a pacifying and constructive way, for the good of society. Featuring a long, pointed protrusion, this polychrome mask is characteristically Yoruba: large, bulging eyes and jugal scarification. During rigorously organized ceremonies, each dancer embodies the desired divinity or character. 66 x 22 cm