Anthropomorphic mask "ishyeen imaalu" ·  D. R. Congo, Kuba · ID: 3047273

Description

wood, colour pigments, rest.

In this beautiful old mask the bonnet including grass fiber tufts and feathers has been preserved, a headdress, as it was worn only by warriors of the Kuba (“iyool”).

This mask is part of a mask triad used by the “babende” male society, which can be found in many villages in central and northern Kuba.

The object Anthropomorphic mask “ishyeen imaalu” with the object ID 3047273 was last part of the auction 95th Tribal Art Auction at October 24, 2020 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 253.

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

Binkley, David A. & Patricia Darish, Kuba, Milan 2009, Pl. 11