Mask "kasangu" ·  D. R. Congo, Salampasu · ID: 3032355

Description

wood, blackish brown patina, kaolin, of hollowed form with a tapering chin, the face dominated by a mouth carved with two rows of tapering teeth, crowned by a coiffure of rattan bowls, a beard in two plant fibre plaits, min. dam., traces of insect caused damage and abrasion;
the Salampasu have three mask types: the “idangani” masks of plaited bast, the copper sheet coated “mukinka” masks and present “kasangu” type. Each of them belongs to the warrior societies “mungongo” and “matambu”. They were used at initiation rites and on occasion of ritual festivities. The number of masks a secret society owned, indicated proven courage, experience of warfare and the number of “enemy heads” that had been taken.

The object Mask “kasangu” with the object ID 3032355 was last part of the auction 68th tribal art auction at March 3, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 459.

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