The Bena Lulua a principally known for diminutive protective figures with plentiful scarification embellishments called ‘Mbulenga’. Masks of the Bena Lulua very rarely surface in collections. The one here is precisely one of these rare and typical Lulua masks. Made of lightweight, light-coloured wood, coloured black, red and white, and presenting a perforated carved rim. A framing that sets of distinctly the the head of the mask, which is large, almost rectangular, rounded and pointy towards the chin. The forehead is high und round. The actual mask face underneath is slightly concave and inwardly curved, with long thin, rather crooked nose, small rectangular eyes, and a non-perforating, almost circular, open mouth. But the most striking aspect of this Bena-Lulua mask is the design of the entire surface (not including the rim) - namely, narrow and regular, straight and jagged lines carved in relief, whose indents alternate their colouring from red (through use of powdered redwood) and white (through use of kaolin). The use of such deeply drawn relief lines reminds of the ‘Kifwebe’ masks of the Songye and the Luba, with whom the Bena Lulua were also in contact through the years. The use of narrow coloured relief line in these masks lends them a special aesthetic allure. As can be glimpsed from the clear accentuation above the eyebrows, in the area of the eyes, or on the sides of the mask. A very interesting, rare object, with an old, partially shiny usage patina on the front and on the back (on the inside). In excellent condition. No damage throughout. Height: 35 cm (with margin); Width: 21 cm (with margin): First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance:
German Private Collection.

Lit.:
'Initiés. Bassin du Congo', Musée Dapper Paris catalogue, ill. p. 34; 'Het Gelaat van de Geesten' by Frank Herreman & Constantijn Petridis, ill. 53.