Face mask "mbangu" · D. R. Congo, Pende (West), Kwilu · ID: 3032215
Eduard Hess, Basel, Switzerland
Description
wood, brown patina, darkened kaolin, slanting eyes and brows, the face halves painted in different colours, fine knotted raffia bast bonnet with a tuft of grass fibre above the forehead, slightly dam., minor missing parts, paint rubbed off;
this mask is the depiction of a highly regarded hunter who has been stricken with facial paralysis. In performance, the “mbangu” mask is danced with a whole cast of character types, from clown to sorcerer and prostitute. The black and white painting refers to the scars of someone who fell into fire due to epilepsy or some medical condition.
The object Face mask “mbangu” with the object ID 3032215 was last part of the auction 68th tribal art auction at March 3, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 238 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,200.
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
Herreman, Frank, To cure and protect, New York 1999, p. 21, 9-11