Elephant mask

Igbo people, Nigeria

26 inches, painted wood

Igbo Ogbodo Enyi masquerades, ordinarily held by men, can also be used for women’s initiation. Ogbodo Enyi means "Spirit Elephant" and stands for strength and resolution. It has been centuries since elephants roamed Nigeria, and this imaginative abstract image is probably the result of oral tradition without actual observation. The mask is quite large and heavy, but it is well balanced so as to stay on top of the dancer’s head. This means it can also be easily displayed on a flat surface.

$575