Mask

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Description

wood, red dyed facial plane, brown paint, kaolin, big vaulted eyes with narrow see slits, band ornaments with the characteristic triangular pattern, three raffia clamps backside for attachment of the mask, drilled holes around the rim, where originally a cuff of grass fibre bundles was attached, slightly dam., missing parts backside at the rim, on base;
most Biombo masks are used in context of initiation rituals. All have black and white triangular decorative marks on the cheeks, but three different types exist: “munjinga” the messenger, who comes out first during ceremonies, the female “tshimoana” and “muluala”, a mask with chameleon eyes used at funerals of important people.

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Comparing literature

Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brüssel 1987, p. 14 f.

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