Description: Welcome To The Premier Place For Serious Collectors of Fine Authentic African Tribal Art Over 10 Years Online Serving Thousands of Satisfied Customers Offering the Finest Quality Sub-Saharan African Art Striking African DRC Gabon Fang Ngil Mask Inches: Height: 21.50 Inches Centimeters: Height: 54.50 Centimeters Measurements Mask Only Material: Wood, Pigment Estimated Age: Early 20th Century Remarks: Highly stylized mask elongated features pigmented finished aged surface INTERNATIONAL BIDDERS WELCOMEAny Available Provenance Will Be Included With This Piece. CONDITIONWood deterioration, age cracks, worn areas, chips, lost of pigment, overall condition good. Thank you and please view my other items. BACKGROUND The Fang constitute a vast mosaic of village communities, established in a large zone of Atlantic equatorial Africa comprising Cameroon, continental Equatorial Guinea and nearly the whole north of Gabon. Historically the Fang were itinerant, and it is relatively recently that they have settled into this broad area. The Ngil masks are tied to the association of Ngil, which played judiciary and political roles among the Fang, assuring peace and hunting witches. These masks had the task of punishing those guilty of vices and criminals. The characteristics of the face do not express a composed serenity, but the deformation of anatomic characteristics reveals its superhuman character. This character is also reasserted by the use of white; for the Fang it is the color of death and of spirits. The accentuated vertical development of the mask is underlined by the long line of the nose. The calm expression of the Ngil, masks stands in striking contrast to the extremely frightening, threatening character of the masked performers who only performed at night in the light of torches. These masks were a part of paraphernalia of a hierarchically-structured male society which used them at initiation ceremonies and to pursue and punish sorcerers and offenders. Painter Fred Uhlman words - Most of the artists I admired, Picasso, Modigliani, Deraini, to mention only a few, had collected African art and had been profoundly influenced by it. Shortly afterwards I bought the Baule Fetish and the Baule bobbin which are still two of the finest pieces in my collection. It is easy to see why I bought them and why from that moment I have never stopped collecting. The head of the bobbin or heddle - pulley which is after all only a functional object for the purpose of weaving seemed to me then and today as beautiful as a Greek goddess. The fetish moved me as deeply as the bobbin by its silent tragic dignity and its air of profound meditation. GUARANTEEAUTHENTICITY AND CONDITION OF ITEMS ARE GUARANTEED TO THEIR DESCRIPTION AND PICTURES.QUESTIONS PLEASE EMAIL WITH ANY QUESTIONS, ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, OR MORE DETAIL PICTURES. SHIPPINGSHIPPING VIA USPS PARCEL POST OR FEDEX GROUND UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE. OTHER SHIPPING OPTIONS AVAILABLE. INTERNATIONAL VIA USPS PRIORITY MAIL -SHIPPING COST PLEASE INQUIRE. COMBINED SHIPPING: SHIPPING IS ALWAYS COMBINED WHEN POSSIBLE, UNLESS THE PIECE IS TOO LARGE OR DELICATE.SHIPPING TIME: ITEM(S) ARE CAREFULLY PACKAGED AND SHIPPED OUT WITHIN 10 DAYS OF PAYMENT. PACKING FRAGILE ART ITEM NEEDS CAREFUL ATTENTION AND WILL NEVER BE FAST, BUT WE DO OUT BEST TO MAKE SURE IT WILL ARRIVE FOR YOU SAFELY. IF YOU NEED THE ITEM QUICKLY PLEASE EMAIL FIRST FOR ARRANGEMENT.
Price: 2800 USD
Location: Huntersville, North Carolina
End Time: 2023-12-07T21:11:43.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Original/Reproduction: Original
Material: Wood
Tribe: Fang
