IBIBIO/ANANG, Nigeria. Wood, pigments including kaolin. Mfon" female masquerade mask from the "Ekpo" secret society responsible for the worship of ancestors, who are the guarantors of the tribe's well-being. This mask is the embodiment of feminine beauty, depicting a face with naturalistic features and an elaborate headdress. 1st half of the 20th century. Height: 24 cm. Width: 20 cm. Minor accidents and missing parts. Provenance: Collection of Patrice CHRISTY, an acknowledged specialist in wildlife conservation, particularly in Africa. He has co-authored several works on biodiversity, and his work has made a major contribution to understanding and preserving bird species in Africa, particularly in Gabon and Sâo-Tomé et Principe. All his objects were collected in the 1970s. Sold without stand