Kuba (Democratic Republic of Congo). Face Mask. Wood, pigment, raffia and wool cloth, cowry shells, beads, metal. Height: 10...

Description

Kuba (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Face Mask
Wood, pigment, raffia and wool cloth, cowry shells, beads, metal
Height: 10 ½ inches Width: 7 inches Depth: 8 ½ inches

This fine old mask has an unusually rich patination achieved by many layers of camwood mixed with oil. As with most masks from the various groups subsumed under the Kuba kingdom, the carved wood face is only a starting point. A now much-patched cloth hood served as the base to which were attached not only wooden ears (the proper left one now missing), but patterned ornaments constructed of beads and cowry shells. The camwood over both eyes has flaked away in a few places. A darkened vertical line at the center of the brow indicates that the central metal strip which runs from the upper lip to the top of the nose once extended to the hairline.

Provenance:
Maria Wyss, Basel, 1972
Peter Schnell
Sotheby's Paris, Sale PF 3015, lot 201
Gary Hendershott, Little Rock



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