Guinean Decorative Baga Nimba Style Headdress

Item Details

A 20th century decorative Baga Nimba style headdress from Guinea. This work is a decorative example of what would traditionally be a larger mask, which depicts the form of a hybrid woman and bird figure associated with fertility. It features embossed geometric designs and beak-like nose and head crest. This figure is purely for decoration. A larger mask would be worn on a dancer’s shoulders with a long raffia skirt to celebrate agricultural festivals, births, funerals, and weddings.

Condition

- dust and debris; some scratches and dents to the surface; even patina.

Dimensions

Item #

18DCC790-007