Grand masque cimier rituel centrafricain c19ème populaire assis sur bonnet de vannerie

c19th Large Central African Ritual Crest Mask Sitting On Basketry Cap

Sitting on a basketry cap and meant to be mounted onto the wearers head

There is significant pigment remaining, the basket cap is slightly loose to one side but is original to the head.

This is Carved from one solid piece of wood. Pigment applied around eyes with remnants of other material possibly animal skin visible on forehead, top of the head and the neck.

This is to human head scale about 35cm high made of a solid piece of dense wood carved and hollowed out to lower neck, partial stake visible which would have been used to attach to the wearers head