Face mask "eluba" or "emangungu" · D. R. Congo, Bembe · ID: 3040449
Hans Hess, Basel, Switzerland
Toni Dähler, Basel, Switzerland
Walter Glaser, Basel, Switzerland
Zemanek-Münster, Würzburg, 20 September 2003, lot 311
Description
wood, polychrome paint, eye zone with sickle-shaped see slits accentuated by red and white pigment, small tubular mouth, rep. (crack), slight traces of abrasion;
present “emangungu” mask type is used at circumcision rites by the “butende bwa eluba” society. The eyes should remind on an owl, which is said to have close connections to the spirits of nature. The masks are attached to a costume of banana leaves and bark. They are worn by initiated boys while begging for food in the village during the seclusion period.
The object Face mask “eluba” or “emangungu” with the object ID 3040449 was last part of the auction 84th Tribal Art Auction at November 5, 2016 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 375.
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Comparing literature
Bamert, Arnold, Afrika, Olten 1980, p. 274 f.