Kifwebe Mask - Songye / Luba Culture, Zaire, Drc - First Half Of The 20th Century

Kifwebe Mask - Songye / Luba Culture, Zaire, Drc - First Half Of The 20th Century-photo-2

Kifwebe Mask - Songye / Luba Culture, Zaire, Drc - First Half Of The 20th Century-photo-3

Kifwebe Mask - Songye / Luba Culture, Zaire, Drc - First Half Of The 20th Century-photo-4

Kifwebe Mask - Songye / Luba Culture, Zaire, Drc - First Half Of The 20th Century

Kifwebe MASK
Songye / Luba culture, Zaire DRC
First half 20th century
Wood, pigments and horsehair
H.: 48 ; W.: 25 cm
(Restoration)

This is a very expressive mask, with a particularly prominent square mouth marked with an incised cross, which seems to express a whistling sound. The large bridge of the nose extends into a ridge at the top of the mask.
The half-moon-shaped eyelids are pigmented brown and open into two horizontal slits.
The wood is streaked and decorated with polychrome alternating kaolin white, black and brown.

This mask was danced during initiation rituals.

Text and photos © FCP CORIDON

Ref : 5613

1 200 €