Mask "mbuya" ·  D. R. Congo, Pende · ID: 3033924

Description

wood, reddish brown patina, kaolin, black paint, tribe-typical facial features, bonnet and chin beard made from raffia bast and plant fibres, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion, on base;
masks of the Pende were used to worship the chief and for initiation rites or for sacred purposes of the priests. In particular, this artist has captured the “bedroom eyes” (“zanze”) believed essential to women’s power over men. The eyes are relatively small in size and the upper lids curve downwards to create the impression that they are nearly closed.

The object Mask “mbuya” with the object ID 3033924 was last part of the auction 71st tribal art auction at November 24, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 416.

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, Petridis, Constantijn (ed.), Face of the Spirits, Tervuren 1993, p. 65