Helmet mask "hemba" ·  R. D. Congo, Suku · ID: 3036739

Description

wood, polychrome paint, carved with a standing quadruped, abundant grass fibre cuff at the bottom, min. dam., cracks, traces of insect caused damage and abrasion;
the “hemba” mask is first danced within the initiation camp at the occasion when other important charms are shown in the traditional initiation of the Suku. A notable of the village had previously treated the mask with a concoction of powerful ingredients and the blood of a cock had been sprinkled over it. This activated the mask-charm and no one could casually touch it without harm. With careful instruction, the older initiates are taught to dance and then permitted to wear a pair of “hemba” masks into the village at the closing festivities. For this dance, additional charms are placed inside the mask or attached to its shaggy fringe that would “shoot” any witch who might attempt to harm the dancer.

L’objet Helmet mask “hemba” avec l’ID d’objet 3036739 a fait partie de l’enchère 77th tribal art auction en 28 juin 2014 pour la dernière fois le Zemanek-Münster Hôtel des ventes et avait le numéro de lot 523.

Vous trouverez d’autres Masques et autres types d’objets populaires sur nos pages thématiques associées. Notre page sur le thème Art africain pourrait également vous intéresser.

Littérature comparée

Herreman, Frank & Constantijn Petridis (ed.), Face of the Spirits, Tervuren 1993, p. 50, ill. 2