Anthropomorphic face mask · D. R. Congo, Salampasu · ID: 3047686
Piet Lepelaar, Leiden, The Netherlands
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.
The object Anthropomorphic face mask with the object ID 3047686 was part of the auction 96th Auction on April 24, 2021. The object with the lot number 134 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,300 with an asking price of EUR 1,200.
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Comparing literature
Fagaly, William, Ancestors of Congo Square, New Orleans 2011, p. 320