Elu Mask with Hinged Jaw
Elu masks are danced by young members of secret men's societies that have social, religious, or governmental functions. The small masks are attached to cone-shaped caps of fiber and cloth that cover the heads of the dancers. They are usually danced at annual festivals or at the funerals of society members.
- Culture: Ogoni
- Medium: Wood, fiber
- Place Made: Rivers State, Nigeria
- Dates: early 20th century
- Dimensions: 7 1/4 x 5 3/4 in. (18.5 x 14.0 cm) (show scale)
- Collections:Arts of Africa
- Museum Location: This item is not on view
- Accession Number: 71.126
- Credit Line: Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Milton Gross
- Rights Statement: Creative Commons-BY
- Caption: Ogoni. Elu Mask with Hinged Jaw, early 20th century. Wood, fiber, 7 1/4 x 5 3/4 in. (18.5 x 14.0 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Milton Gross, 71.126. Creative Commons-BY
- Catalogue Description: Small wooden face mask with hinged, movable jaw. Drilled holes appear on sides, and on bottom of chin. Lower jaw portion attached to upper by narrow wooden threads on each side. Semicircular disc like ears, with square notches inside, protrude from sides of face. Two raised square areas (scarification marks) with geometrically incised square designs appear on both sides of the face at outer corner of eye area. The eyes are hollow almond shaped openings. The head decoration is a raised portion, with a horizontally notched band down the center. The upper lip area has a vertical incision in the center, the bottom lip also. CONDITION: Good with exception of surface wear.
- Record Completeness: Best (89%)