Fang Ngil-type mask — Fang, Cameroon — African tribal art — Ref. 51

Description

This long mask attributed to the Fang of southern Cameroon belongs to the tradition of Ngil-type masks, associated with initiatory societies and functions of ritual and moral control. Its elongated form, rounded forehead, long axial nose and narrow slit eyes evoke the sober and hieratic aesthetic specific to this corpus. The dark brown and white bichromy accentuates the spiritual dimension of the piece, white referring to the world of the ancestors, ritual purity and invisible powers. The whole is carved from heavy wood with an old patina, a coherently worn surface and fine marks of age. The piece has an old structural crack visible on the reverse, now restored, without altering the general reading of the face. This restoration should be mentioned, but remains compatible with a collection presentation.

Technical details

Type of piece

Masque

Category

Masks

Ethnic group

Fang

Country

Cameroun

Materials

wood,, pigment blanc

Dimensions

H 70 × W 15 × D 22 cm

Weight

5 kg

Estimated dating

second half 20th c.

Restoration / losses

Restored

Laboratory test

Not tested

Reference

51