Anthropomorphic face mask · D. R. Congo, Salampasu · ID: 3035703

Name: Anthropomorphic face mask
SKU: 3035703
Availability: Discontinued

not available anymore

Provenance

Monika Edelmaier, Berlin, Germany

Size

H: 33 cm

H: 13.0 inch

Description

wood, brown patina, kaolin, rattan, grass fibre, coiffure of rattan bowls, min. dam., fine cracks, slight traces of abrasion, base;
the Salampasu have three mask types: the “idangani” masks of plaited bast, the copper sheet coated “mukinka” masks and present “kasangu” type. Each of them belongs to the warrior societies “mungongo” and “matambu”. They were used at initiation rites and on occasion of ritual festivities. The number of masks a secret society owned, indicated proven courage, experience of warfare and the number of “enemy heads” that had been taken.

The object Anthropomorphic face mask with the object ID 3035703 was last part of the auction 75th tribal art auction at November 30, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 437.

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.