Miniature mask "lukungu" ·  D. R. Congo, Lega · ID: 3035231

Description

ivory, honey brown patina, flatted chin and forehead area, circular decorations, drilled hole on each side, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion;
“lukungu” masks belong to members of “bwami”- society who already have reached the highest rank of kindi. “Lukungu” means “skull” and should be a hint that the mask is thought to remind of deceased “kindi” members. At initiation ceremonies they were oiled and then displayed on a kind of fence or attached to bigger “muminia” or “idimu” masks.

The object Miniature mask “lukungu” with the object ID 3035231 was last part of the auction 74th tribal art auction at September 7, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 355 achieved a sales price of EUR 1,200.

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

Biebuyck, Daniel P., Lega, Brussels 2002, p. 93, ill. 37