Pende Artist
Early 20th century
Mask
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Wood, raffia, pigment, fiber
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Wood, raffia, pigment, fiber
Height: 17 inches (43.5 cm)
This mask from the Pende people of the Democratic Republic of Congo is known as Mbuya. It represents a village character, most likely a possessed person or a jester that...
This mask from the Pende people of the Democratic Republic of Congo is known as Mbuya. It represents a village character, most likely a possessed person or a jester that was danced in ceremonies to instruct the young initiates into adulthood and to honor ancestral authority. Usually carved with exaggerated or dramatic features, it is characterized by long drooping eyelids, a prominent forehead and a detailed raffia hairdo with conical tresses.
Provenance
Private collection, New EnglandEx Mark Eglinton, New York
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