Anthropomorphic face mask "kifwebe" · D. R. Congo, Luba · ID: 3033254
René David, Zurich, Switzerland (1965)
Harald & Ursula Suhr, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada / Germany (1979)
Description
wood, red, white and black paint, of hollowed round form, narrow slit eyes, entirely coated with curved concentric grooves, pierced around the rim, min. dam., minor missing parts, fissures, traces of abrasion;
such masks are said to be incarnations of bizarre heterogenic beings. The grooves symbolize animals with striped skin, like porcupines, zebras or antelopes. The round masks were especially danced at funerals of important persons.
The object Anthropomorphic face mask “kifwebe” with the object ID 3033254 was part of the auction 70th tribal art auction on September 8, 2012. The object with the lot number 169 achieved a sales price of EUR 3,600 with an asking price of EUR 3,200.
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Comparing literature
Herreman, Frank, Petridis, Constantijn (ed.), Face of the Spirits, Tervuren 1993, p.158, ill. 76