A fascinating carved wooden dance crest with central wooden animal horn type finial and inserted wooden hair plus, kaolin clay accents on eyes and mouth and the entire sculpture is covered in expertly adhered animal skin. Traditionally when such dance crest were used, the skin was oiled and reflective in the sun / firelight which would attract the spirits of ancestors and perhaps even animal spirits.
 
The dance crest measures 20 inches tall. Boki peoples, Cross River, Nigeria, Africa.
 
Provenance: Exhibited in 1975 at the show AFRICAN ART: NATURE, MAN AND VITAL FORCE at the Art Museum of the Palm Beaches, Fl. Also Exhibited in 1985 at the Hogan Gallery of art show : THE MAGIC & POWER OF AFRICAN ART.
 
Ex Bruce Greene, FLA , Ex Romano Family, New Jersey, USA.
Condition
Good/fair, some minor losses/chipping at bottom of the headdress on one side.