Since the 17th century, the Pende have been divided into Eastern and Western Pende. For their initiation ceremonies the West Pende perform large, theatrical ‘mbuya dances’, with many different mask types.
The present type of such a ‘mbuya mask’ represents a priest, healer or soothsayer, and is called ‘mbuya nganga ngombo mask’. The mask is carved from hard, light-coloured wood and dyed light reddish-brown, black and white (at the back: reddish-brown). It shows a ‘classical’ Pende face: with broad, protruding forehead with central decorative scarification marks, transverse, long eyebrows, small, protruding ears, ‘hanging’ lids above slit eyes, with a small, broad, slightly curved upwards nose and a pointed, open mouth with rows of teeth carved out from the same piece, above a pointed chin, into which a vegetal fibre beard is bound. The hairstyle consists of light brown fibre fabric, embroidered with lines and four pendant plaits including tassels of black, vegetal fibres.
A highly impressive, very typical piece, without significant damage (only a few, minor cracks) and with good usage patina. On the base there is an old collection number in white letters.
Height: c. 26 cm; width: c. 20 cm.
Pursuant to information supplied by the consigner, this item was collected before 1910.
<br<b>>PUBLISHED in a catalogue of the J. M. Desaive & Ch. Laeremans Collections, Brussels, p. 41 (available as a copy).

Provenance: Private collection of Y. Baur, Brussels; Laeremans Collection, Brussels; currently: Austrian private collection. (ME)