Horned mask · D. R. Congo, Sundi · ID: 3040564
Jean-Robert Arnaud (1920-2007), Paris, France
Description
wood, black paint, remains of red and white pigment, flat u-shaped facial plane with a T-shaped forehead-nose area, irregular painted, eyes and mouth pierced, old label on the backside “Le Corneur Roudillon Paris”, slightly dam. (nose, horn tips), minor missing parts (mouth), traces of insect caused damage, abrasion of paint, metal base;
for picture of comparable mask see Lehuard, 1993, p. 771.
There are only a few masks known by the Sundi, and only little is known about their usage. They could belong to a variation of the “ndunga” society. Some authors say that they were used in funerary rites wheras others say they belong to diviners.
The object Horned mask with the object ID 3040564 was part of the auction 83rd Tribal Art Auction on May 28, 2016. The object with the lot number 476 achieved a sales price of EUR 7,500 with an asking price of EUR 1,800.
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Comparing literature
Lehuard, Raoul, Art Bakongo, Les Masques, Arnouville 1993, p. 771