Ijo sawfish headdress WATER SPIRIT RARE, HUGE Start Price USD 1,500.00 Current Price USD 1,500.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, July 16, 2008 End Time Wednesday, July 23, 2008 Location Denver, CO See more about 'Ijo sawfish headdress WATER SPIRIT RARE, HUGE' Description Title: Ijo Sawfish Headdress Type of Object: Ethnic Group/Tribe: Ijo (Ijaw) Country of Origin: SE Nigeria/Niger Delta-Cross River region Materials: Wood, paints Approximate Age: Mid 20th Century 20th Century Dimensions: 75" inches Overall Condition: Good Damage, Repair: Some losses/repairs Additional Information: A rare and absolutely spectacular example of one of the most desirable of all African art forms. "EGBUKELE By far the most well-known of Ijo carvings are the famed, abstract "water spirit" masks, which depict a range of references to important totem animals, like crocodiles and hippos and, in the startling case of this piece, even a sawfish! A stylized human face is often incorporated, though absent on our mask. Water-spirit headdresses are fascinating, even shocking, with levels of abstraction and creativity unique in an area known for rather realistic depictions of both animals and humans. Though their neighbors, the Igbo, also craft so-called "water-spirit" masks, which usually depict a hippo, the form certainly does not dominate their artistic output like it does that of the Ijo. Ijo water-spirit masks, usually large, and worn on top of the head, extend horizontally, and are used for a variety of functions, from ancestor worship, to religious and magical ceremonies. The realm of the water-spirits is all-important to the Ijo, who believe that rivers and tributaries are where both the unborn and the dead reside. The depiction of a sawfish is not as surprising as one might think. This weird fish is usually associated with the oceans, being found in both the Atlantic and Pacific. But according to the NOAA Fisheries website, "Sawfish inhabit shallow coastal waters of tropical seas and estuaries throughout much of the world. They are usually found in shallow waters very close to shore over muddy and sandy bottoms. Certain species are even known to ascend inland, into large rivers, and can be found in freshwater systems in many areas." It is reasonable, therefore, to conclude that this bizarre fish would be found among the pantheon of Ijo totem animals. A truly remarkable piece worthy of the finest collection. Recommended Reading:See Fagg, SCULPTURE AFRICAINE  **024457** All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2006 Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers! Please visit our About Us page. SquareTrade © AP6.0 PesaMember Place a Bid!