Anthropomorphic face mask · D. R. Congo, Eastern Bembe, Buyu / Nyindu · ID: 3048535
Zemanek-Münster, Würzburg, Germany, 12 May 2007, Lot 360
Description
wood, kaolin, base
The Bembe live in the south-east of the former Kivu Province, an area where different cultural traditions meet. Knowledge about Bembe culture and art is scanty.
In general, it can be said that the morphology of the Bembe masks is related to the Lega, which can be clearly seen in the present mask.
M. L. Felix published a mask in 1989 that combines stylistic traditions of the Lega and Bembe and which he located among the Nyindu (Felix, 1989, p.100, Fig. 23 and AHDRC 0014932).
The object Anthropomorphic face mask with the object ID 3048535 was last part of the auction 97th Auction at November 6, 2021 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 301 achieved a sales price of EUR 900.
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.
Comparing literature
Felix, Marc L., Maniema, München 1989, p. 100, Fig. 23 Herreman, Frank & Constantijn Petridis (ed.), Face of the Spirits, Tervuren 1993, p. 183
Publications
AHDRC: 0014933