Helmet masks with multiple faces (between two and six), such as the present one, existed and still exist among the Fang tribes (Bulu, Ntumu, Betsi etc.) and among the Kwele, in North Gabon, South Cameroon and the Congo. They are called ‘Ngontang’ among the Fang and ‘Ngontangang’ among the Kwele people. Both terms mean ‘young, white woman’. Dances with this mask type are believed to protect against witchcraft.
The present, old ‘Ngontang helmet mask’ of the Fang has four faces. Each pair of opposite masks has identical features (one pair with open mouth and one with closed mouth at the lower edge). The mask is carved in lightweight, light brown wood. The upper section of the hairstyle, the sides with decorative spikes as well as the lower margin are coloured black and brown and smoothed with hot iron. The lower, cross-shaped crested coiffure is pierced in two directions at the point of intersection. All four faces and the lower, all-round decorative stripes are coloured in white by means of kaolin (hence: ‘young, white woman’). The faces feature typical tribal scarification marks with slight red highlights on the forehead, nose and cheeks (here 2x carved in relief and 2x pierced).
All eyebrow arches are pierced (non consistently). The lower fastening eyelets for the mask costume made of raffia strips are partly broken as a result of protracted use of the mask. A piece with very good usage patina on the outside as well as on the inside, with minor age-related damage (colour scuffed and small pieces broken off).
First third of the 20th century; H: 31 cm. (ME)

Provenance: French Private Collection; German Private Collection.

Lit.: 'Ancestral Art of Gabon' by Louis Perrois, fig. 36; 'African Art in American Collections' by Robbins & Nooter, fig. 865.