ticketsMember | Make a donation

Maiden Mask

19th - early 20th century (before 1922)
Not on view
Returned to lender
This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.
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.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Maiden Mask
  • Date: 19th - early 20th century (before 1922)
  • Geography: Nigeria
  • Culture: Igbo peoples
  • Medium: Wood, pigment
  • Dimensions: H.: 17 1/2 in. (44.4 cm)
  • Classification: Wood-Sculpture
  • Credit Line: The University of Pennsylvania Museum, Philadelphia
  • Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing