Ogoni Mask with Articulated Jaw RED Face, African Start Price USD 275.00 Current Price USD 275.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, July 17, 2008 End Time Thursday, July 24, 2008 Location Denver, CO See more about 'Ogoni Mask with Articulated Jaw RED Face, African' Description Ogoni Yam Festival Mask with Moving Jaw , Encrusted Patina Type of Object: Mask Ethnic Group: Ogoni Country of Origin: Nigeria Materials: Wood, paint Approximate Age: 20th century Dimensions: Height is 6 inches.Width is 5.5 inches Overall Condition: Good Damage, Repair: Pigments have rubbed off ob tip of nose, lips, and ears. No repairs Additional Information: Small mask with articulated jaw. The jaw is tied on with hand-twisted rope ties, and has two thin reeds behind the lips. The face is painted with red color . Coiffure, markings, and lips are highlighted with dark color. The Ogoni, like many groups throughout West Africa, have traditionally celebrated the harvest of important crops, like yams, with masked dances. Masks with hinged jaws are used by both the Ogoni and their neighbors the Ibibio for harvest festivals, as the moveable lower jaw would make a happy, clacking sound when the dancers jumped up and down. Identification and attribution of masks from the Niger Delta region can be difficult, since they were often carved by members of adjacent cultures for sale/trade to their neighbors. It is well-known that a number of Delta peoples, including the Ogoni, have used Ibibio carvers extensively in the past. The lives of the Ogoni have been severely disrupted by the pollution caused by oil drilling in their historic homelands, and this has caused thousands of them to move inland and disperse. As a result they have abandoned many of their ritual ceremonies, and their masks have become highly collectible. For a fabulous photographic display of the masks from the Niger Delta, see the G.I. Jones Collection.I have examined this piece and agree with the description.Niangi Batulukisi, Ph.D.  .**W1844** 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!