Ngil Fang face mask Gabon / Equatorial Guinea Wood,... Lot 145

Ngil Fang face mask Gabon / Equatorial Guinea Wood, pigments H.: 50 cm. Cracks due to shrinkage of the wood Large oblong mask, characteristic shape of Ngil masks, with a cordiform face hollowed out, rounded and slightly concave, bleached with kaolin. The eyes are suggested by thin slits. The nose is disproportionately long and the eyebrow arch in very pronounced relief is underlined in black. A small triangular mouth shows tight teeth. It is topped by a small sagittal crest that becomes transverse to the back of the skull. Mask used by the Ngil male society during the initiation of its new members and to fight against sorcerers and criminals. Their frightening and fearsome appearance was further reinforced by the dancers who appeared in the villages at night, dressed in raffia fibre costumes. It was a rite of social regulation that consisted of frightening those who had evil intentions. Having caused unrest in villages due to the abuse of its followers, the Ngil was gradually banned by the colonial administration around 1910-1920. The white colour of the face evokes the power of the ancestors and reveals that the mask embodies the spirit of a deceased person. The Ngil mask is an object of terror for the Fang. Object made specifically for colonial trade with an obvious decorative interest. Consultant : Jean-Pierre LACOSTE