Mask "mfondo" ·  D. R. Congo, Lwalwa · ID: 3032276

Description

wood, brown patina, kaolin, of concave oval form, an elongated medial nose framed by rectangular eyes, dam., missing part (left protruding), fissures, slight traces of abrasion;
the small hole underneath the nose was used for attachment of a string, serving to hold the mask with the teeth and fix it in front of the face. These masks were used for initiation of the young boys of the “ngongo” society as well as for fertility- and hunting rites.