bwoom Wood, ritual patination height 15in (38cm) Provenance Jean-Willy Mestach Collection, Brussels Merton D. Simpson Gallery, New York Robert and Nancy Nooter Collection, Washington, D.C., acquired in 1970 Published Robbins, Warren (Introduction), African Art in Washington Collections, Museum of African Art, 1972, pg. 48 Exhibited Washington, D.C., African Art in Washington Collections, Museum of African Art, 1972 Washington, D.C., Life Afterlife, Museum of African Art, 1982 Washington, D.C., National Museum of African Art – Smithsonian Institution, 1987 – 2004 Of classic, deeply hollowed form, the artist clearly intended to increase the power of the sculptural volumes in this work. The mask is pierced around the edges for attachments; a feint raised circle-eight design on the back of the head, the top with an approximately 3in (7cm) hole with old erosion around the edge; piercing around the eyes and chin, the right with encrustations covering most of the holes; pierced through at the ears and covered throughout with heavily encrusted ritual patination.