Mask "mbuya" · D. R. Congo, Pende · ID: 3032259
Eduard Hess, Oberwil, Switzerland
Description
wood, coated with a thick layer of camwood powder, dark brown patina, elaborate raffia bast bonnet, characteristic: horizontal brows and eyes with nearly closed lids, incised tattoos on the cheeks, slightly dam., minor missing parts;
circumcision and initiation are mandatory for young men and culminate with some maskers representing village character types, in more than 15 different forms, all called “mbuya”: including the mad man “tundu”, the prostitute “ngobo”, the young flirt “gabuku”, the diviner “nganga”, the long-bearded man “kiwoyo-muyombo” and the chief’s mask “phumbu”.
The object Mask “mbuya” with the object ID 3032259 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 135 achieved a sales price of EUR 360.
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Comparing literature
Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture, München 2009, p. 499