Zemanek-Münster

Mask "kifwebe" with horns ·  D. R. Congo, Songye · ID: 3032245

sold EUR 2,500
Provenance
Hans Hess, Basel, Switzerland (1971)
Eduard Hess, Basel, Switzerland
Size
H: 43 cm
H: 16.9 inch

Description

wood, darkbrown patina, red and white pigment, typical form with forehead-/nose crest and tubular mouth, grooved decor in some areas, slightly dam., missing parts, strong traces of insect caused damage on the back, indigenous repair (chin), rep. (nose);
very old and very rare !
in the course of time the typical “kifwebe” mask type was diversified. Some obvious animal references were added to the classic rectangular box-shape. Some had horns curving downward for a ram, or upward for an antelope, or backward for a goat. Some had large ears flanking the forehead as a jackal. Present mask reminds of a buffalo.


The object Mask “kifwebe” with horns with the object ID 3032245 was last part of the auction 68th tribal art auction at March 3, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 246 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,500.

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., Beauty and the beasts, New Jersey 2003, p. 71 f.


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