Zemanek-Münster

Mask "kifwebe"

D. R. Congo, Luba
sold EUR 3,330
Provenance
Alain Guisson, Brussels, Belgium
Rudolph de Ruijter, Katlijk, The Netherlands
Michel Gaud, Saint Tropez, France
Size
H: 31,5 cm
H: 12.4 inch

Description

wood, kaolin, black and blue pigments, presumably depicting a monkey (baboon?), nice detail: eyebrows made from real hair, pierced around the rim in two rows, min. dam., fissures, slight traces of abrasion;
since the mid-1980s some variations on the typical “kifwebe” masks appeared. The classic rectangular box shape and the grooved pattern receded, while attributes of certain animals were added.


Comparing literature

Felix, Marc L., Beauty and the beasts, New Jersey 2003, p. 77, ill. 99

Subscribe to our newsletter

Join over 10,000 tribal art collectors. Don't miss out on upcoming news and auctions.

Subscribe today