Anthropo/ zoomorphic face mask "panya ngombe" · D. R. Congo, Pende, East · ID: 3044924
Georges Stoecklin, Juan les Pins, France
Lucien Van de Velde, Antwerp, Belgium
Hans Hess, Basel, Switzerland
Description
wood, polychrome painted,
This mask is carved with the features of a human face but is said to represent a bull or bush cow, a symbol of strength and chiefly power. These masks formerly belonged to the insignia of important chiefs (“mbuya jia ufumu”).
The masked dancers appeared only during the “mukanda” initiation of adolescent boys after their circumcision, to gather donations to cover the cost of the celebration that took place after the initiation period.
The object Anthropo/ zoomorphic face mask “panya ngombe” with the object ID 3044924 was last part of the auction 90.I Tribal Art and 90.II Contemporary Native American Art at November 17, 2018 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 305.
You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.
Publications
AHDRC: 0038512