Lega, Democratic Republic of Congo: An ‘Idimu’ face mask for high level members of the Bwami society.
Lega, Democratic Republic of Congo: An ‘Idimu’ face mask for high level members of the Bwami society.
Among the Lega (also called Rega or Warega) the Bwami society presides over the tribe’s entire social life. The society has six ranks for men and three ranks for women.
Whilst small, pocket-sized wood masks (‘Lukwakongo’) serve as a ‘badge’, as it were, for members of the Bwami society, larger face masks, such as the present one of the ‘Idimu’ type, are reserved for exclusive use by men of the two highest ranks (‘Yananio’ and ‘Kindi’). They wear such masks during important initiation rituals.
The present ‘Idimu mask’ displays the typical tribal forms of the Lega: made of light-coloured hard wood, coloured dark brown on the front. The characteristically heart-shaped, concave face is covered in a white layer of kaolin. Further Lega features include: protruding forehead, long nose, slit coffee bean eyes, small mouth, as well as five holes all around the chin, by means of which a ‘beard’ made of plant fibres was originally attached. A piece with patina and minor age damage (one old tear to the upper section and two pieces from off on the back rim).
First half to mid-20th century; H: 23 cm. (ME)
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
26.05.2015 - 15:00
- Estimate:
-
EUR 2,000.- to EUR 2,400.-
Lega, Democratic Republic of Congo: An ‘Idimu’ face mask for high level members of the Bwami society.
Among the Lega (also called Rega or Warega) the Bwami society presides over the tribe’s entire social life. The society has six ranks for men and three ranks for women.
Whilst small, pocket-sized wood masks (‘Lukwakongo’) serve as a ‘badge’, as it were, for members of the Bwami society, larger face masks, such as the present one of the ‘Idimu’ type, are reserved for exclusive use by men of the two highest ranks (‘Yananio’ and ‘Kindi’). They wear such masks during important initiation rituals.
The present ‘Idimu mask’ displays the typical tribal forms of the Lega: made of light-coloured hard wood, coloured dark brown on the front. The characteristically heart-shaped, concave face is covered in a white layer of kaolin. Further Lega features include: protruding forehead, long nose, slit coffee bean eyes, small mouth, as well as five holes all around the chin, by means of which a ‘beard’ made of plant fibres was originally attached. A piece with patina and minor age damage (one old tear to the upper section and two pieces from off on the back rim).
First half to mid-20th century; H: 23 cm. (ME)
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: | 26.05.2015 - 15:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 20.05. - 26.05.2015 |