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Headdress (Boki):
Boki Headdress (Nigeria) (AF0029)
Figure 1: Boki Headdress (AF0029)
A Boki Headdress
being a crest for a head cap in the shape of an oval human head with elongated conical neck, geometric features including "C"-shaped lug ears, pronounced conical nose, mirror eyes and prominent ridge brow, eye-shaped open mouth showing incised teeth, the coiffure consisting of a central crest, double turn of cane banding attached to lower edge of neck for affixing to head cap; an overall matt patina.
Material: wood, glass, cane, white pigments; height: 360mm.
Provenance:
Private Collection; acquired at auction, Adelaide 1998.
The Boki ethnic group inhabit the Cross River area of southeast Nigeria and use various types of masks, including depictions of human heads. These are worn as headdress, either individually or in pairs during the 'nkaumbuk' rite.
Discussion:
See 'Hahner-Herog 1998' - (pl.53) for further discussion on Boki ethnic group.
Comparison:
See 'Sotheby's UK (93.2)' - (lot 120).
Artefact Code: AF0029
Boki Headdress
Map of Africa showing the tribal area of Mashango in the centre of Gabon The Gulf of Guinea: Tribal area of the Boki people located in the Cross River region of southeast Nigeria.
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