Untitled

Object/Artifact

-

DePaul Art Museum

Name/Title

Untitled

Entry/Object ID

2001.60

Description

Mask with painted features. The eyes and mouth are lined in black and a decorative headpiece can be seen in black and red on the back.

Context

These masks of the Ogoni peoples of Nigeria were masks that were used in masquerades. The Ogoni had different masquerades concerning social well-being, protection, health, and spirituality. This an Elu mask which is in a masquerade that is performed and danced by young members of a secret men’s society. Elu can be translated to spirit. The westernized look of this mask suggests that it could have represented a foreign culture in the masquerade. There is also a possibility that this was a mask used in the masquerades held to welcome in important visitors to the town.

Acquisition

Accession

2001.50-175

Source or Donor

May Weber

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Gift of the May Weber Foundation

Made/Created

Artist

Unknown artist

Notes

No date

Ethnography

Cultural Region

Continent

Africa

Culture/Tribe

Ogoni

Notes

Ogoni Nigeria, Africa Africa, Nigeria

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Mask, Theatrical

Nomenclature Class

Public Entertainment Devices

Nomenclature Category

Category 09: Recreational Objects

Getty AAT

Concept

Ogoni, Cross River, Southern Nigerian styles, West African (general), African (general, continental cultures), ceremonial masks, masks (costume), costume (mode of fashion), spiritualism, philosophical concepts, Western (Veneto-Saracenic metalware style), Veneto-Saracenic, Italian Renaissance-Baroque styles, Renaissance-Baroque regional styles, Renaissance-Baroque styles, European

Hierarchy Name

Styles and Periods (hierarchy name), Costume (hierarchy name), Furnishings and Equipment (hierarchy name), Associated Concepts (hierarchy name)

Facet

Styles and Periods Facet, Objects Facet, Associated Concepts Facet

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Whole

Width

13.335 cm

Depth

11.43 cm

Length

17.78 cm

Material

Wood, Pigment