Mask ·  D. R. Congo, Pende · ID: 3030976

Description

wood, polychrome paint, castagnet eyes with pierced pupils, a pointed mouth, pierced around the rim, slight traces of abrasion, on base;
despite the slit eyes, “pota” is a forehead mask, secured in place by the pillbox hat. It performs with great variety and often executes manoeuvres associated with other masks. In particular, because the dancer breathes easily and does not tire so quickly, “pota” often takes over duties from “kipoko” so that it is described as “first minister” among the village mask.

The object Mask with the object ID 3030976 was last part of the auction 68th tribal art auction at March 3, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 457 achieved a sales price of EUR 350.

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Comparing literature

Pende, Collection J. M. Desaive et Ch. Laeremans, Brüssel 2009, p. 57