Rare mask
D. R. Congo, Azande
sold
EUR 5,000
Size
H: 34 cm
H: 13.4 inch
Description
wood, dark brown patina, pierced almond-shaped eyes, open mouth with separately worked teeth, raised headband, min. dam., small missing parts, traces of insect caused damage and abrasion;
the Azande most probably possess no true mask tradition. The rare examples attributed to them differ considerably. They were used by the “mani” society as well as in funeral ceremonies. Stylistically they are linked to the masks of the Central African Republic, which suggests that they were imported about 1910, at the same time as the “mani"society.
Comparing literature
Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brussels 1987, p. 203 Herreman, Frank & Constantijn Petridis (ed.), Face of the Spirits, Tervuren 1993, p. 222 f.Publications
AHDRC: 0139851