This Igbo Spirit mask is both elegant and mysterious.  It came back to us after 15 years in private collection.

Igbo use thousands of masks. The outstanding characteristic of the many of their masks is that they are painted chalk white, the color of the spirit. Masked dancers wore extremely elaborate costumes (sometimes ornamented with mirrors) and often their feet and hands were covered.

With their masks, the Igbo juxtapose diverse notions, such as: beauty vs. bestiality; the feminine vs. the masculine; black vs. white.