Mask "mfondo" ·  D. R. Congo, Lwalwa · ID: 3033294

Description

wood, blackish brown patina, white paint, of hollowed oval form, raised protrudings in the area of the temples, pierced around the rim, min. dam., minor missing parts, cracks, 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.

Comparing literature

Herreman, Frank, Petridis, Constantijn (ed.), Face of the Spirits, Tervuren 1993, p. 103