Art Institute of Chicago
Mask
Sha or Kulere
- Date
- Late 19th century
- Medium
- Wood and rubber
- Culture
- Nigeria
- Department
- Arts of Africa
- Institution
- Art Institute of Chicago
This strikingly abstract mask was once covered with potent red abrus seeds that were held in place by a resin paste. It would have been used in initiation rituals for one of six age-grade associations. Among the Sha people, a mask like this one represents a male spirit called Akirang who had a female counterpart named Aja. The Kulere equivalent of Akirang was Asho, a spirit associated with human and agricultural fertility.
The authoritative record is held by Art Institute of Chicago. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.
Linked open data
Authority identifiers that link this record into the wider web of cultural data — stable references you can follow to the source.
- Object type
- AAT300138758
Related across collections
Semantically similar works from Art Institute of Chicago and other institutions.
Asakurajô (Old Man Asakura) Noh mask
Art Institute of Chicago
Face Mask (Agboho mmuo)
Cleveland Museum of Art
Helmet Mask
Cleveland Museum of Art
Face Mask with Female Figure (satimbe)
Cleveland Museum of Art
Initiation mask
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Male Face Mask (Chihongo)
Art Institute of Chicago
Mask for Egungun (Ere Egungun)
Art Institute of Chicago
Asa Kate Mask
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Mask
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Serpent Headdress
Cleveland Museum of Art
Doroe Spirit Mask
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Helmet Mask
Cleveland Museum of Art