Very rare leather mask · D. R. Congo, Lega · ID: 3048891
Description
hide, pigment, base
Lega masks made of animal skin are extremely rare. A comparable object formerly Jef Vanderstraete, published in Biebuyck, 2002, p. 115, cat. 60.
According to Biebuyck, a connection with the secret face masks of the “elanda” association is conceivable, an institution of the neighbouring Bembe shared by only a few eastern Lega groups (cf. Felix, 2016, cat. 292).
These leather masks were originally decorated with feathers, and sometimes a set of porcupine quills. They were “highly secret” and used by high-ranking initiates of the “elanda” association, worn over their faces and only seen through a wall of the initiation house.
Their roles were different from that of Bwami masks: they “transformed the wearer into a spiritual being to amplify the social control functions vested in him.
The object Very rare leather mask with the object ID 3048891 was last part of the auction 98th Auction at March 26, 2022 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 277 achieved a sales price of EUR 4,000.
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.
Comparing literature
Biebuyck, Daniel P., Lega, Brussels 2002, p. 115, cat. 60 Felix, Marc Leo, Masks in Congo, Hong Kong 2016, cat. 292