Rank Mask - Lega - Drc - Early 20th Century - Primitive / Tribal Art

Masque of the Bwami initiation society. It features a face with a long nose, coffee bean eyes, brow ridges marked by two balanced arcs, and a forehead adorned with a dotted triangular design. The face, inscribed within a heart-shaped space, conveys a beautiful, introspective expression. Wood, with an old honey and russet patina, signs of use, kaolin. Lega, Democratic Republic of Congo, early 20th century. Dimensions: 14.4 x 8.5 cm – With goatee: 34 cm. Provenance: former collection in northern France. Sold with a certificate of authenticity from the expert Serge Reynes, guaranteeing its origin and period. Used in Bwami initiations, this wooden mask is part of the tradition of emblems passed down through generations. Its meticulous decoration likely symbolizes an important rank within the ritual hierarchy. Attached to a headdress or held in the hand during collective rituals, it contributes to the teaching of moral values, the reminder of lineages, and the affirmation of a status acquired through experience and transmission. It embodies the spiritual elevation characteristic of the higher ranks of the Lega initiatory society.* Shipping costs upon request.