Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.
Maiden Mask
Not on view
In 1922, Brummer sold to Quinn this precisely carved maiden mask, from southeastern Nigeria, for $200. Maiden masks, representations of adolescent females, impersonate Igbo ideals of youthful feminine beauty. In their original context, they were danced by male performers during festivals honoring important patron deities, as well as for entertainment. During performances, they were complemented by vibrantly colored suits and accompanied by a multi-instrumental orchestra. Such dynamic display strongly contrasts with their static presentation in Western collections. Art from Eastern Nigeria seldom entered private collections until later in the twentieth century: the presence of this mask in New York at such an early date illustrates the unexpected breadth of early trade networks of African art.
Due to rights restrictions, this image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.
