Male mask "cihongo" · D. R. Congo, Chokwe · ID: 3035000
Jo de Buck, Brussels, Belgium
Description
light-coloured wood, painted in red, black and white, characteristic for the “cihongo” mask type: mouth with jagged teeth and projecting beard, scarification marks missing, old collection label attached: “Race Batshok - Masque de Féticheur - von de Mr. Francois”, slightly dam., crack;
the “cihongo” mask is regarded as a spirit of wealth and power. In former times the masks were exclusively worn by chiefs or their sons. They used to go on special “dance tours” for two or three months. The gathered donations - fabric, poultry, beads etc. were taken as tribute payment for the highest authority. Besides the “cihongo” masks were means of criminal justice and for practicing social control.
The object Male mask “cihongo” with the object ID 3035000 was last part of the auction 73rd tribal art auction at May 25, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 370 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,000.
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