Rare anthropomorphic mask ·  D. R. Congo, Songye / Luba · ID: 3050289

Description

wood, animal bristles, grass fibre, kaolin,

The basic shape of this mask, with its rounded forehead, concave face and flattened chin, as well as the design of eyes, nose and mouth are reminiscent of the “kifwebe” mask type of the Songye, albeit in a modified form and without the typical grooved decoration.

In his publication “Beauty and the beasts” (2003, p. 69), Felix refers to unusual “kifwebe” masks that have animal charateristics. One of these masks shows great similarity to the present specimen. It is a mask from the Walschot Collection published in 1953, equipped with short horns (cf. Felix, 2003, p. 68 ill. 79).

Comparing literature

Felix, Marc L., Beauty and the beasts, Brussels 2003, p. 68 ff.