Mask "mukinka" · D. R. Congo, Salampasu · ID: 3032219
Eduard Hess, Basel, Switzerland
Description
wood, dark brown patina, typical form (bulging forehead/small face) and coiffure (rattan bowls), originally entirely coated with copper sheet, remains of a netlike knotted bonnet of cord material, slightly dam., minor missing parts, paint rubbed off;
masks of the Salampasu belong to the warrior societies “mungongo” and “matambu”. They were worn at war ceremonies in order to celebrate brave “headhunters”. Anyone who wears them had achieved highest prestige and rank.
The object Mask “mukinka” with the object ID 3032219 was last part of the auction 68th tribal art auction at March 3, 2012 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 242 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,800.
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Comparing literature
Hahner-Herzog, Iris, Das Zweite Gesicht, Genf, München, New York 1997, p. 274