Mask

Dance crest in the form of a human head, attributed to the Boki (?) people of Nigeria. It features fragments of skin secured with nails, deep eye sockets, slightly convex eyelids and eyeballs, pupils indicated by inserted nails, and small ears. Holes at the base were used to attach the crest to a woven wicker supporting structure. The work is part of the Bassani Collection (inv. AFR 00052 2513A).

Photo: Paolo Vandrasch, Milano; Giuliano Spagnul, Milano; Vivi Papi, Varese.

Courtesy MUDEC, Milano.