260443 - Old Yoruba Gelede Head- or Helm mask - Nigeria.

€275.00

Old African Geleda Head- or Helm mask from the Yoruba, Nigeria.
Carved from a single piece of wood, with color pigments.
Height: 43 cm x 32 cm. This mask is collected in 1960s

This Gelede mask is dated mid 20th century and comes with a certificate of authenticity.

This Gelede wooden headdress is carved from a single piece of heavy wood. The human face appears to represents a male. It is carved with the classical Yoruba facial features: heavy eyelids, bulgy almond-shaped eyes, flared nose and compressed full lips. The pupils and nostrils are roughly pierced with circular holes. Three scarification lines are incised on the forehead and both cheeks. They are stained in black. These scarification lines are called pele, which many communities in south-western Yorubaland regard as ‘gems’ on the human face. The ears are shaped like question marks. Overall, the facial features exemplify supremacy, rigour and calm.

This Gelede mask comes from the Yoruba who live along the boundary between southwestern Nigeria and present-day Benin (Dahomey). The Gelede form is clear here: the downward-facing gaze and subtle scarification on the cheeks accompanied by the round forehead. Gelede masks are often decorated with animals or other motifs on top. The Yoruba are known to apply colorful pigments to their facial features, too.

Gelede masks are emblematic cultural artifacts of the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria, particularly revered for their role in festivals and social rituals. These masks are carved from wood and brightly painted, often depicting human faces with diverse expressions and intricate hairstyles. They are worn during Gelede ceremonies, which honor and celebrate the 'mothers,' that is, the female forces of society, including ancestors and deities.

The Gelede festival is an occasion to honor the fertility, health, and prosperity of the community. The dances and mask dances, often accompanied by music and chanting, are aimed at appeasing and obtaining the blessings of female spirits for the well-being of society. The Gelede masks, both aesthetically and symbolically, embody important values such as respect, social harmony, and the spiritual power of women in Yoruba culture.