MASK Kifwebe Culture Songye / Luba, Zaire Democratic Republic of Congo

Kifwebe MASK
Songye / Luba culture, Zaire Democratic Republic of Congo
First half of the 20th century
Wood, pigments and horsehair
H.: 67; L.: 36 cm

Monoxyl wooden mask carved in a very expressive manner: its forehead is marked with a large crest tapering to form the openwork nasal bridge of two nostrils garnished with a horsehair forelock, its prominent mouth ends in a square marked with a cross in an X, seeming to make a hissing sound; its large eyes observe large openwork half-moon eyelids.
The entire mask is punctuated with streaks, enhanced with brown, red ocher and kaolin pigments.
On base.

This mask danced during initiatory rituals.

Old restoration.

Text and photos © FCP CORIDON

Ref. LP4797