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| Figure 1: Boki Headdress (AF0029) |
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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.
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Material: wood, glass, cane, white pigments; height: 360mm. |
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Private Collection; acquired at auction, Adelaide 1998. |
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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.
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See 'Hahner-Herog 1998' - (pl.53) for further discussion on Boki ethnic group.
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See 'Sotheby's UK (93.2)' - (lot 120).
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