A ljebu-Yoruba Headdress, "igodo" Headpiece, "igodo" Yoruba-Ijebu, Nigeria Mit Sockel / with base Wood, mirror, nails. H 110 cm. Provenance: - French private collection. - Galerie Ratton-Hourdé, Daniel Hourdé, Paris. - 1991: Madame Ricard. - Blanchet & Associés, Paris. 28.11.2006, lot 22. - French-speaking Swiss private collection. In the shallow coastal region of Ijebu, the numerous rivers with their hundreds of shallow tributaries swell during the rainy season into a veritable labyrinth of streams and waterways that are connected to the lagoon coast. These waters, rich in fish, served as transportation routes for trade between neighbouring ethnic groups and with Europeans. In such an environment, water spirits became important as spiritual forces for the prosperity and well-being of the local population. These beings, responsible for prosperity and the blessing of children, were worshipped in the agbo-ekine cult. The local Ijebu-Yoruba shared this ekine cult with the Ijo and other groups on the Niger Delta coast, and the influence of these neighbors was clearly evident in the design of certain water spirit masks. The water spirits appeared in the form of various masks called igodo, the bird, agira, the antelope, and oni, the crocodile. Further reading: Wittmer, Marcilene K. / Arnett, William (1978). Three Rivers of Nigeria. Atlanta: The High Museum of Art. ----------------------------------------------------- Described by Blanchet & Associés (Paris, 24.11.2006) as follows: "Superbe masque cimier de danses. Il est en bois avec reste de polychromie, ancienne trace de portages localisée. Ce masque au profil d une grande élégance,présente plusieurs animaux et symbole divers s'imbriquant les un dans les autres. Ijo, Delta region, Nigeria. Provenance : collection privée Paris. Acquis à la galerie Ratton Hourdé Paris. 15 000/18 000 €" CHF 4 000 / 6 000 Weight in grams: 6700 Condition: Some visible flaws and missing parts (see photos). -------------------------------- The condition (any wear, signs of use, cracks, any other damage and signs of age, etc.) of this lot can be seen in the photos we have uploaded for your documentation. If you have any questions about this item, please do not hesitate to contact Hammer Auctions ([email protected]). The information regarding the condition of the items provided for the convenience of interested parties is an opinion only and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Hammer Auctions accepts no responsibility for any errors or omissions. In the rare event that the item does not match the description in the catalog, Hammer Auctions is here to help. Buyers may return the lot for a full refund provided they notify Hammer Auctions within 5 days of receiving the lot.