A Makonde Helmet Mask (Lipiko)...

Description

A Makonde Helmet Mask (Lipiko)
Southern Tanzania/Northern Mozambique, c. 1880

This exceptional Makonde helmet mask is distinguished by its distinct personality and sculptural presence. The head tilts slightly upward and is turned slightly to its left, the half-closed eyes with thick lids, the C-shaped ears sit back on the sides of the head, and the jaw thrusts forward to a pronounced chin. The mouth is open in a gentle smile. On the whole the expression is friendly and appealing. The raised eyes and nose are softened by a relatively thick black pigment which covers most of the head. Human hair is implanted on the scalp and eyebrows. In good condition, a large V-shaped section from the base up to the area above and including the proper left ear and back down has been reattached and has professional restoration over the break lines. Proper right ear reattached. Numerous small chips from the bottom perimeter.

Among the Makonde, helmet masks (lipiko) played central roles in initiation and mapiko dances, embodying spirits that mediated between the living community and ancestral or otherworldly forces. Worn with a full costume, they transformed the dancer into a spirit presence whose dramatic movements and gestures conveyed moral lessons, clan histories, or warnings.

This example, dating to the late 19th century, belongs to the classic corpus of Makonde masks collected in the period before colonial transformations altered local traditions. Comparable pieces are held in the British Museum, the Musée du Quai Branly, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Rare in both personality and expressive power, it exemplifies the technical mastery of Makonde carving and the philosophical depth of East African masquerade traditions.

Provenance:
Acquired by the current collection in 1997
Bernard de Grunne, Brussels, Belgium
Baudouin de Grunne, Brussels, Belgium

Length: 15 inches

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