Songye, Dem. Rep. of Congo: A ‘pith helmet’ made of wood, with four ‘kifwebe’ masks.
A ‘curiosity’! During the period of the Belgian colonial domination of the Congo (Belgian Congo: 1885–1960), the Belgian colonial officials encountered different headdresses, hats, helmets and so-called ‘pith helmets’. This led to imitations: if a local chief or ‘king’ wanted to appear equal to the Belgian officials, he had a wood helmet carved for him. In this case, a ‘pith helmet’! This ‘pith helmet’ consists of lightweight, light-coloured wood, with a dark brown coloured rim and four small ‘kifwebe’ masks carved out from the same piece, of the Songye, in southeastern Congo: two male masks (with crest) and two female masks (without crest), opposite each other (see also cat. no. 103). The choice of this type of mask seems logical: ultimately, the members of the ‘Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe’ secret society, who wear such masks, also exercise a policing function. An interesting ‘curiosity’ from the colonial period! With good, old usage patina (also on the inside and on both fastening eyelets), as well as with minor age-related damage (minor cracks, a minor loss and an original repair on the rim). Certainly before 1960 (independence of Congo); DM: 31 cm x 33 cm. (ME)
Esperto: Prof. Erwin Melchardt
Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
05.11.2014 - 13:00
- Stima:
-
EUR 1.400,- a EUR 1.800,-
Songye, Dem. Rep. of Congo: A ‘pith helmet’ made of wood, with four ‘kifwebe’ masks.
A ‘curiosity’! During the period of the Belgian colonial domination of the Congo (Belgian Congo: 1885–1960), the Belgian colonial officials encountered different headdresses, hats, helmets and so-called ‘pith helmets’. This led to imitations: if a local chief or ‘king’ wanted to appear equal to the Belgian officials, he had a wood helmet carved for him. In this case, a ‘pith helmet’! This ‘pith helmet’ consists of lightweight, light-coloured wood, with a dark brown coloured rim and four small ‘kifwebe’ masks carved out from the same piece, of the Songye, in southeastern Congo: two male masks (with crest) and two female masks (without crest), opposite each other (see also cat. no. 103). The choice of this type of mask seems logical: ultimately, the members of the ‘Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe’ secret society, who wear such masks, also exercise a policing function. An interesting ‘curiosity’ from the colonial period! With good, old usage patina (also on the inside and on both fastening eyelets), as well as with minor age-related damage (minor cracks, a minor loss and an original repair on the rim). Certainly before 1960 (independence of Congo); DM: 31 cm x 33 cm. (ME)
Esperto: Prof. Erwin Melchardt
Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Asta: | Tribal Art |
| Tipo d'asta: | Asta in sala |
| Data: | 05.11.2014 - 13:00 |
| Luogo dell'asta: | Wien | Palais Dorotheum |
| Esposizione: | 31.10. - 05.11.2014 |