Female mask "mbuya" · D. R. Congo, Pende · ID: 3043167
Description
wood, red and black paint, kaolin, ideal female physiognomy with bedroom eyes “sanze”, cap from fine raffia bast with plant fibre cords, insect caused damage, abrasion of paint, base.
Called “the female mask” or “gambanda”, resp. “kambanda”. The male dancer wears beautiful and costly clothes, bracelets and anklets - he is dressed like a beautiful young girl liable to become the trophy wife of a high-status male. The female mask dances to the rhythms of comtemporary popular dances and performs little comedies with a mirror and comb to suggest her vanity and preoccupation with appearance.
The object Female mask “mbuya” with the object ID 3043167 was last part of the auction 88th Tribal Art Auction at March 10, 2018 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 449.
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
Strother, Z.S., Inventing masks, Chicago 1998, p. 217 ff.
Publications
AHDRC: 0150633