Rare early 20th century Ethnographic art piece. Large and exquisitely crafted African Yoruba people ancestors mask. The creation of this item is directly linked to the secret religious societies inside the Yoruba, Igbo and Ewe ethnic groups. Only a select few tribe leaders are endowed with the honor of being a mask wearer. They are almost always men, and often elders within the tribe, who have earned wisdom and respect over the years. When they wear the mask, tribes believe they become the spirit they wish to invoke. This mask presented for auction preserves in great condition the original pigments used for its decoration. The small figures on top of it, gives a clue of who was the person portrayed, perhaps a poultry local trader. Antique Ethnographic Art and Tribal Collectibles.