Mask ·  D. R. Congo, Lele · ID: 3032218

Description

wood, red and white paint, u-shaped, the eye zone accentuated by double arched brows and tube-shaped protrudings on both sides, dotted painting, drillings around the rim, rep., min. dam., slight traces of abrasion;
the Lele are decisively influenced by neighbouring Kuba groups, which makes it difficult to differentiate their ritual artworks from those of the other Kuba kinsmen. Typical however, are shield-shaped, flat masks, painted in various colours, and with slit pierced eyes, several eye brows, and small mouths.

The object Mask with the object ID 3032218 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 226 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,000.

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

Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brüssel 1987, p. 74 f.

Exhibition

Oberwil 1990