Zemanek-Münster

Mask "mbuya" ·  D. R. Congo, Pende · ID: 3042609

not available anymore
Provenance
Guy Schraenen, Antwerp, Belgium
Size
H: 18,5 cm (mask)
H: 7.3 inch (mask)

Description

wood, reddish brown patina, black paint, kaolin, bonnet and remains of a costume form raffia bast, hairdo with dark plant fibre, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion, base.
Mask type called “the female mask” or “gambanda”. The dancer dresses like a beautiful young girl liable to become the trophy wife of a high-status male. The female mask dances to the rhythms of comtemporary popular dances and performs little comedies with a mirror and comb to suggest her vanity and preoccupation with appearance.


The object Mask “mbuya” with the object ID 3042609 was last part of the auction 87th Tribal Art Auction at November 11, 2017 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 447.

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

Strother, Z.S., Inventing masks, Chicago 1998, 217 ff.


Subscribe to our newsletter

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

Subscribe today