Horned mask "kayamba" · D. R. Congo, Lega · ID: 3042831
Pierre Dartevelle, Brussels, Belgium
Description
light brown wood, kaolin, min. traces of black paint, eyes and mouth cut out, forhead/nose ridge and chin accentuated by drilled holes, min. dam., traces of abrasion, water spots, base.
Lega masks serve as important marks of rank within the different initiation levels of “bwami” society. The “kayamba” mask type belongs to accomplished teachers. Occasionally they are found in communally owned baskets with various initiation objects. Like all other masks, they are combined with sayings, drama, music and so forth in performances by men and women.
The object Horned mask “kayamba” with the object ID 3042831 was last part of the auction 87th Tribal Art Auction at November 11, 2017 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 419 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,200.
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
Biebuyck, Daniel P., Lega, Brussels 2002, p. 116 f. Cameron, Elisabeth L., Art of the Lega, Los Angeles 2001, p. 210, ill. 9.54