Snake mask ·  D. R. Congo, Bwaka · ID: 3032293

Description

wood, greyish brown patina, traces of ritual blackish mass and kaolin, discoidal, the underside carved with a small ring with drilled holes for attachment, slightly dam., cracks, small traces of insect caused damage, rep.;
by a medicine man worn horizontal on the head, presumably used for the healing of snake bites. Zande masks are rare! They were used in “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, the same time as the “mani”.

Comparing literature

Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, The Handbook, Brüssel 1987, p. 202 f.

Exhibition

Exhibition Oberwil 1990