This ‘sachihongo mask' of the Mbunda depicts a powerful, mighty chieftain, a hunter and a medicine man, who had lived a long time ago. This mask of the ‘wise, old grandee’ is used in the initiation of boys where it embodies the figure of the all-adjudicating respected authority.
The present ‘sachihongo mask’ is made of lightweight, light-coloured wood and shows the characteristic features of this Mbunda type: splayed lines on the bulging forehead, a short, triangular nose, accentuated protruding cheekbones and a lozenge-shaped, open mouth. The mask face was originally dyed black and brown, on the plank-like protruding border at the sides and above remains of red colouring (by means of powdered redwood) can be detected.
The fastening eyelets for the mask costume are mostly broken off at the front due to age, the holes on the edge of the rear display good traces of usage. Only minimal age-related damage (colour scuffing, chipped edges, a minor crack to the back), as well as particularly good, old usage patina on the outside and inside. A very rare mask type.
Height: 36 cm; width: 28 cm. 19th century. (ME)

Provenance: Colin Sayers, Cape Town, South Africa; currently: German private collection.

Lit.: ‘Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture’ by K.-F. Schädler, ill. p. 432; ‘The Tribal Arts of Africa’ by Jean-Baptiste Bacquart, p. 203.