Makonde
Mozambique and southern Tanzania
Carved wood with applied hair and inset teeth
11 in high
Provenance: Christer Larsson, Sweden; Ian Rosenfeld, London
This Makonde lipiko is a helmet mask carved as a full head, hollowed to be worn over the wearer's own. The face is smoothly modelled with narrow closed eye slits, a short nose, and parted lips that open on a row of inset teeth, with small flat ears applied at the sides and a long tapering chin below. The scalp is covered with applied hair set into the crown, and faint incised circular and star motifs are worked into the surface at the temple and brow.
Lipiko masks are worn by Makonde men in masquerade at the close of initiation, the dancer's whole head enclosed so that the carved face stands in for his own. The naturalism of the features, the applied hair, and the inset teeth are characteristic of the type. The face carries a deep glossy black patina.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
Makonde
Mozambique and southern Tanzania
Carved wood with applied hair and inset teeth
11 in high
Provenance: Christer Larsson, Sweden; Ian Rosenfeld, London
This Makonde lipiko is a helmet mask carved as a full head, hollowed to be worn over the wearer's own. The face is smoothly modelled with narrow closed eye slits, a short nose, and parted lips that open on a row of inset teeth, with small flat ears applied at the sides and a long tapering chin below. The scalp is covered with applied hair set into the crown, and faint incised circular and star motifs are worked into the surface at the temple and brow.
Lipiko masks are worn by Makonde men in masquerade at the close of initiation, the dancer's whole head enclosed so that the carved face stands in for his own. The naturalism of the features, the applied hair, and the inset teeth are characteristic of the type. The face carries a deep glossy black patina.
We ship free anywhere in the world, fully insured, packed by hand.
