Female mask with lip plug · Tanzania, Makonde · ID: 3032267
Eduard Hess, Basel, Switzerland
Description
wood, shiny brown patina, scarification marks in wax, lip plug “pelele”, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion;
these proportionally small masks were fastened to the forehead. The remaining part of the head is covered with fabric through which the performer breathes and looks. The most spectacular however was, that the dancers wore stilts measured up to three meters, which is why the term “stilt dancer” is inseparable attached to the Makonde.
The object Female mask with lip plug with the object ID 3032267 was part of the auction 68th tribal art auction on March 3, 2012. The object with the lot number 265 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,200 with an asking price of EUR 800.
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Comparing literature
Jahn, Jens (Hg.), Tanzania, p. 432 f.