Anthropomorphic face mask
D. R. Congo, Salampasu
sold
EUR 1,300
Provenance
Poekelien Lingbeek, Baarn, The NetherlandsPiet Lepelaar, Leiden, The Netherlands
Size
H: 30 cm
H: 11.8 inch
Description
wood, kaolin, grass fibre, base
Traditionally, masks of the Salampasu belong to a broad range of male societies and associated initiation sub-societies.
This mask is probably of the “kasangu” type, which was the property of the warrior society “mu(n)gongo”.
The heads of the dancers were crowned by luxuriant feather ornaments. They wore a net-like costume made of raffia fibres, a skirt made of grass fibres or animal skins and held a sword in their hands.