Ekpo Nyoho masks like this were used by the elders of the Ekpo secret society of the Ibibio/ Eket people of southeast Nigeria. These masks represent the ancestral spirits and were used to teach right from wrong, enforce social discipline, protect villages from witchcraft, disease and provide entertainment. Carved in a highly stylized manner, these masks depict chaotic spirits featuring distorted or exaggerated facial features, bared teeth, and grotesque designs.
This is a beautiful early mask with a distinguished provenance, coming from the dealer Julius Carlebach and the collection of Ruth and Ernst Anspach, New York.