Yaka, Dem. Rep. of Congo: A mask of the Yaka, with high crest, handle and ruff of raffia.
Yaka, Dem. Rep. of Congo: A mask of the Yaka, with high crest, handle and ruff of raffia.
A typical mask of the Yaka, from the southwestern Congo. Made out of hard wood, with a small mask face in a polygonal frame, with protruding eyes, slightly curved narrow nose, and a wide mouth with two rows of teeth. The face is coloured white, blue-black and red. Above the mask sits a tall, abstract crest with a central middle extension, a ‘plate’ and four later struts bound together at the top. The crest consists of rattan stripes and thin staffs, which are wrapped with fabric. The fabric is also blue-black, white and red, and painted. The mask and the crest are surrounded by a voluminous and thick curtain of light brown raffia. Under the raffia ruff is a round handle carved out from the same piece, with which the mask dancer held the mask in position. An old mask that must have been often used during dances, with good, partly shiny usage patina on the wood of the face, as well as colour scuffing on the fabric of the crest. H: 60 cm (total, with raffia ruff); 18 cm x 16 cm (the wooden face). First third of the 20th century. (ME)
Provenance: Belgian Private Collection.
Lit.: 'Yaka' by Arthur P. Bourgeois, fig. 29, 30, 31, 32, 39, 47.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
02.11.2015 - 14:00
- Starting bid:
-
EUR 1,500.-
Yaka, Dem. Rep. of Congo: A mask of the Yaka, with high crest, handle and ruff of raffia.
A typical mask of the Yaka, from the southwestern Congo. Made out of hard wood, with a small mask face in a polygonal frame, with protruding eyes, slightly curved narrow nose, and a wide mouth with two rows of teeth. The face is coloured white, blue-black and red. Above the mask sits a tall, abstract crest with a central middle extension, a ‘plate’ and four later struts bound together at the top. The crest consists of rattan stripes and thin staffs, which are wrapped with fabric. The fabric is also blue-black, white and red, and painted. The mask and the crest are surrounded by a voluminous and thick curtain of light brown raffia. Under the raffia ruff is a round handle carved out from the same piece, with which the mask dancer held the mask in position. An old mask that must have been often used during dances, with good, partly shiny usage patina on the wood of the face, as well as colour scuffing on the fabric of the crest. H: 60 cm (total, with raffia ruff); 18 cm x 16 cm (the wooden face). First third of the 20th century. (ME)
Provenance: Belgian Private Collection.
Lit.: 'Yaka' by Arthur P. Bourgeois, fig. 29, 30, 31, 32, 39, 47.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Auction: | Tribal Art |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 02.11.2015 - 14:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 28.10. - 02.11.2015 |