Mask "nsembu" ·  D. R. Congo, Kumu · ID: 3032291

Description

light wood, matt patina, polychrome paint, incised scarification marks, painted with dots, pierced around the rim, dam., missing parts, traces of abrasion;
masks of the Kumu are called “nsembu” or “ibole”; they appear in paired dances that contrast male and female roles during initiation into the “nkunda” divination society.

The object Mask “nsembu” with the object ID 3032291 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 221 achieved a sales price of EUR 700.

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.