Three-headed mask "gizengi"

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Description

wood, dark brown patina, red and white pigment, prominent scarifications, characteristic feature: continuous eye brows, dam., missing parts through insect caused damage (above all at the lower rim and on the right side), cracks, old place of repair (crack and damaged spot spread with mass and “mended” by plant fibre), rep. (lower mouth part), base;
Anne-Marie Bouttiaux stated, that the “gizengi” mask character was created among the Central Pende in the early 20th century. In its first incarnations, “gizengi” was an association of two or several masks of the same type placed side by side. While later sculptors used a single piece of wood and carved it with several faces like present mask proves.

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Comparing literature

Bouttiaux, Anne-Marie, Persona, Masks of Africa, Tervuren 2009, p. 22 ff.

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