Indiana University Indiana University IU

Browse the collection

Mask in the Form of a Hippopotamus Head

Culture Ijo
Culture Kalabari (Subgroup of the Ijo)
Title Mask in the Form of a Hippopotamus Head (Otobo)
Date Ca. 1916
Medium Wood, incrustation, pigment, and and metal
Dimensions Object: 19 × 9 3/8 × 4 3/4 in. (48.3 × 23.8 × 12.1 cm)
Overall: 19 × 9 3/8 × 4 3/4 in. (48.3 × 23.8 × 12.1 cm)
Credit Line Gift of Raymond and Laura Wielgus in honor of Rudy Professor Emeritus Roy Sieber, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University
Accession Number 96.49

Share this artwork!

About this Work

This mask’s name, otobo, means “hippopotamus,” an animal that the Kalabari refer to as “the beast who holds up the flowing tide,” and the mask’s solid form and tusk-like canines clearly convey the strength and fierceness of its namesake. As befitting this powerful aquatic mammal that is known for its aggressive and unpredictable movements on land, the otobo masquerader moves in a belligerent and forceful manner toward both the audience and other masqueraders. During a performance, the mask, which is positioned on top of the head, is decorated with feathers, fiber, leaves, and cloth, which are attached to the metal loops on the sides and top.


Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.

Viewing Information
This artwork is currently on view.

 

Request this Image
The Eskenazi Museum of Art provides images of its collection, free of charge, upon request. This artwork is under copyright protection. You can request the image and it will be emailed to you when the request is complete.

Cite this Page
"Mask in the Form of a Hippopotamus Head | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2024. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=96.49