Mask · D. R. Congo, Biombo · ID: 3035825
Antonio Fiacco, Fehraltorf/Zurich, Switzerland
Description
wood, dark brown patina, kaolin, closed eyes, two drilled holes in the cheek area (see holes), forehead horn, pierced around the rim, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion, base;
most Biombo masks are used in context of initiation rites. There are three different types: “munjinga” the messenger, who is the first to perform, the female masks “tshimoana” and “muluala” and a mask with chameleon eyes used at funerals of important people.
The object Mask with the object ID 3035825 was last part of the auction 75th tribal art auction at November 30, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 190 achieved a sales price of EUR 700.
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, Brussels 1987, p. 15, ill. 8