Male mask "cihongo" · D. R. Congo, Chokwe · ID: 3035857
Alfred Kren, Munich, Germany
Description
wood, shiny brown patina, black paint, kaolin, typical for the male type is the broad, teeth revealing mouth, as well as the disc-shaped protruding beard, rep. (breakage at the chin), fine cracks, small missing parts, base;
the male spirit “cihongo” symbolizes strength and abundance; in former times the masks were exclusively worn by the chief or one of his sons and were responsible for criminal justice and social control.
The object Male mask “cihongo” with the object ID 3035857 was last part of the auction 75th tribal art auction at November 30, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 394.
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Comparing literature
Wastiau, Boris, Visions of Africa, Chokwe, Milan 2006, ill. 55