Anthropomorphic miniature mask "ikoko" · D. R. Congo, Pende · ID: 3033936
Description
ivory, partly reddish patina, attached to a necklace of coloured glass beads, rep. (back), minor missing parts, cracks through age, on base;
such miniature masks with three- or four-pointed headgear embody the powerful masked spirits “fumu” and “pumbu”, with whom the boys will have a lifelong alliance.The masks, which are usually made of costly ivory or hippopotamus bone, also indicate the owner’s status and prestige.
The object Anthropomorphic miniature mask “ikoko” with the object ID 3033936 was last part of the auction 71st tribal art auction at November 24, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 421.
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Comparing literature
Herreman, Frank, Petridis, Constantijn (Hg.), Face of the Spirits, Tervuren 1993, p. 21, ill. 27