Helmet mask ·  D. R. Congo, Kwese · ID: 3033549

Description

wood, red, black and white paint, complete with exuberant grass fibre collar at the lower rim, the actual facial plane proportionally small, heart-shaped contoured by black pigment, painted scarification marks, rooflike projecting coiffure, slightly dam., paint rubbed off, on metal base;
such bell-shaped helmet masks performed during circumcision rites for young boys. They can be found by a great number of ethnical groups in southwestern Zaire: especially with the Suku, but with the Yaka, Mbala, Hungaan, Pindi and Pende as well.

The object Helmet mask with the object ID 3033549 was last part of the auction 70th tribal art auction at September 8, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 409.

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Comparing literature

Hahner-Herzog, Iris, Das Zweite Gesicht, Genf, München, New York 1997, ill. 205