Sale 194 Lot 492

MALAWIAN NYAU CHEWA MASQUERADE HIPPO MASK, Mid 20th century. Animal head-shaped mask (likely a hippo) for a Nyau masquerade made of painted wood with wide open mouth, and protruding tongue and horns. Strips of skin with attached fur are doubled over and pinned to mask to form ears. Lengths of sisal are attached around neck of the mask. The Nyau is a secret society of the Chewa, an ethnic group of the Bantu peoples from Central and Southern Africa.
- height: 31 inches.
Estimate $250-350