Ekoi Wood Janiform Headdress

A crop of pointed knobs covers the scalp, and the white eyes look straight ahead.

This janiform headdress is Ekoi, from Nigeria, West Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is wood and pigment. Ekoi crest headdresses are known for their naturalistic heads, and janiform examples are generally read as showing two complementary aspects. The head is dark and glossy, with inset white eyes, a strong nose and parted lips. Raised circular marks and bars run across each temple, and rows of carved knobs stand up from the hair. A long neck descends into a coiled cap. It is 11 inches wide, 9 deep and 20 high.

Every knob in place, and not a hair out of line.