Whilst the Western Pende live in western Congo, the Eastern Pende migrated to the eastern part of the region in the course of the 17th century. As a result, they developed a completely different artistic style.
The Western Pende have large, theatrical dances, the so-called ‘mbuya dances’, which are performed during the initiation festivals of young men. For these ‘mbuya dances’, the Pende have more than fifteen different mask types, which represent different characters: chiefs, women, priests, young and old men, sick people, fools, etc. These many different mask types are called ‘mbuya masks’. The present, long, narrow and therefore somewhat unusual Pende mask belongs to this varied type of the ‘mbuya masks’ and displays many obvious characteristics of the Pende style: it is carved from hard wood and its face is coloured in two halves, one half white and the other dark reddish-brown. This dichromatism is always apparent on the ‘illness masks’ of the Pende, and they are known as ‘mbuya mbangu’.
Hence this mask is probably also a type of ‘illness mask’ (‘mbuya mbangu’). The forehead is tall and bulging, the eyebrow arches are accentuated and coloured black. The eyes of this mask are fashioned completely in characteristic Pende style: with large and lowered eyelids (the typical ‘bedroom eyes’ of all Pende masks). Also the form of the ears is ‘typically Pende’.
The nose is somewhat long, but slightly curved upwards, the typical tribal scarification marks on the cheeks are common, and the corners of the mouth at the almost naturalistically shaped lips are curved slightly downwards – all ‘typically Pende’. Only the overall ‘elongated’ form makes this Pende mask appear somewhat unusual – as does the lack of the hairstyle of raffia fabric and plant fibres, otherwise common for ‘mbuya masks’. Instead this mask is bound within an encircling framework, with wooden sticks wrapped in fabric. Over this frame, which is painted with black tree resin, the mask costume of the dancer was probably pulled and attached.
An interesting, special piece, with good, old, partially shiny usage patina on the front, on the framework and on the inside on the back. No significant damage.
Height: c. 32 cm; width: 21 cm. First half to mid-20th century. (ME)

Provenance: Austrian private collection.

Lit.: ‘Pende’ by Z. S. Strother, ill. 17, 18.