Female mask with labret, before 1914 ·  Tanzania, Lindi or Rovuma Districts, Makonde / Mwera · ID: 3047006

Description

wood, pigments, old collection label “Frauenmaske (Makonde) DOA”, base

A work by the same artist was auctioned at Zemanek-Münster on 22 September 2007 (cf. AHDRC 0086531).

According to Weule (1909) masks of the Makonde represent ghosts (“midimu”). This mask is identified as female type by the lip peg “pelele”.

The masks generally appeared at the end of circumcision rites, when the young boys and girls returned from the bush camps.

The masquerades fulfilled ritual as well as educational functions.

The object Female mask with labret, before 1914 with the object ID 3047006 was last part of the auction 95th Tribal Art Auction at October 24, 2020 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 322.

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

Jahn, Jens (Hg.), Tanzania, München 1994, p.434 ff.