Mask "kakungu" ·  D. R. Congo, Nkanu · ID: 3042013

Description

wood, matt patina, polychrome paint, prominent eyezone, small mouth, remains of formerly baloon-like projecting headdress (bonnet made of rattan and fabric strips), min. dam., traces of insect caused damage, abrasion, cracks, base;
“kakungu” is the oldest and most important mask among the Nkanu, which is neither female nor male for them. It was worn by the “mbaala”, the first circumcised, chosen from the eldest of the “bikumbi” initiates.

The object Mask “kakungu” with the object ID 3042013 was last part of the auction 85th Tribal Art Auction at March 4, 2017 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 415.

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

Herreman, Frank & Constantijn Petridis (ed.), Face of the Spirits, Tervuren 1993, p. 40 f. Damme, Annemieke van, Spectacular Display, New York 2001, p. 76 f.