Rare pig mask "ngulu" ·  D. R. Congo, Chokwe · ID: 3039125

Description

wood, brown patina, decoration tag, incised scarifications accentuated by red pigment, remains of a bonnet from animal skin on the back, min. dam., slight traces of abrasion;
the dancer generally performs on all fours, imitating the pig’s behaviour, poking about with its snout, scratching itself and trampling around clumsily.
The dance masks are used by itinerant dancers, who keep them in a basket. After the performance, the dancers receive gifts in return for the magical strength which they have dispensed to the community.

The object Rare pig mask “ngulu” with the object ID 3039125 was last part of the auction 81st Tribal Art Auction at October 31, 2015 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 430 achieved a sales price of EUR 750.

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.

Expertise

L'Impasse St Jacques Arts Primitifs, Pierre Dartevelle, Brussels

Comparing literature

Bastin, Marie-Louise, La sculpture Tshokwe, Gossau 1982, p. 86 f.