Mask "hemba" · R. D. Congo, Suku · ID: 3032370
Harvey T. Menist, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Description
wood, polychrome paint, carved with a standing quadruped (antelope?), tribe-typical facial features, abundant grass fibre cuff at the bottom, min. dam., slight traces of 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 Mask “hemba” avec l’ID d’objet 3032370 a fait partie de la dernière vente aux enchères 68th tribal art auction dans 3 mars 2012 le Zemanek-Münster Hôtel des ventes. L’objet portant le numéro de lot 467 a atteint un prix de vente de 6 000 €.
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, Petridis, Constantijn (ed.), Face of the Spirits, Tervuren 1993, p. 50, ill. 2