Cap mask (Anago Master)

19th century

wood pigment

Gelede is a masquerade to honor and placate the "mothers," incarnate forces of thwarted fertility and spiritual power who are less diplomatically referred to as witches. Although men, appearing in pairs, dance these masks, many gelede masks depict women. Some are satiric or genre characters such as the prostitute or the Islamic northerner. Others have elaborate superstructures with figures of devotees, animals, exaggerated head ties (a woman's head covering) or even palm trees. The headdress on this mask is apparently unique; it most probably refers to a particular deity or the deity's devotee. Although the sections rising from the head have some stylistic affinities with the relief carving of divination boards, a reference to Ifa, the god of fate and order, is unlikely. Similarities can also be found with the designs on the textile panels of some gelede mask costumes. Gelede masks are worn like caps and tilted at a 45-degree angle on the forehead. The sculptor takes this angle into account when carving the mask. This mask is one of four identified as being by the same individual, an unidentified artist from a far western Yoruba group, the Anago of Benin. The attribution is now formalized as the Anago Master. The distinctive arrangement and size of the features are consistent with characteristics of this master, as are the flat-topped, rectangular ear, the profile of the eyelids and the precise triangular chip carving. This beautiful mask is masterfully carved and retains much of its traditional polychrome decoration.

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