Songye, Dem. Rep. of Congo: A male ‘Kifwebe mask’.
The Songye people live in southeastern Congo. They have a male secret society called 'Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe', which performs with these masks (male and female) and with full body costumes made of bast fibres during initiations, funerals as well as with a police function. The present, typical ‘Kifwebe mask’ is male (with high crest; female: without crest). With large, slit eyes and telescoping nose and mouth. The stripes are carved in relief and appear unusually large on this mask. This is possibly the result of the influence of the neighbouring, ‘related’ Luba tribes. This 'Kifwebe' is coloured in alternating shades of red, black and white. The old net made of braided strings of plant fibres still hangs on the back. The net covered the back of the dancer’s head during his performance. Overall, the present ‘Kifwebe mask’ displays good and very old usage patina on the outside as well as on the inside, and some minor age-related damage: minor tears, cracks, partly restored (glued), colour scuffed etc. Between c. 1900 and the first third of the 20th century; H: 50 cm. (ME)
Esperto: Prof. Erwin Melchardt
Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
24.03.2014 - 16:00
- Stima:
-
EUR 2.400,- a EUR 3.000,-
Songye, Dem. Rep. of Congo: A male ‘Kifwebe mask’.
The Songye people live in southeastern Congo. They have a male secret society called 'Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe', which performs with these masks (male and female) and with full body costumes made of bast fibres during initiations, funerals as well as with a police function. The present, typical ‘Kifwebe mask’ is male (with high crest; female: without crest). With large, slit eyes and telescoping nose and mouth. The stripes are carved in relief and appear unusually large on this mask. This is possibly the result of the influence of the neighbouring, ‘related’ Luba tribes. This 'Kifwebe' is coloured in alternating shades of red, black and white. The old net made of braided strings of plant fibres still hangs on the back. The net covered the back of the dancer’s head during his performance. Overall, the present ‘Kifwebe mask’ displays good and very old usage patina on the outside as well as on the inside, and some minor age-related damage: minor tears, cracks, partly restored (glued), colour scuffed etc. Between c. 1900 and the first third of the 20th century; H: 50 cm. (ME)
Esperto: Prof. Erwin Melchardt
Prof. Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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lun-ven: 10.00 - 17.00
kundendienst@dorotheum.at +43 1 515 60 200 |
| Asta: | Tribal Art |
| Tipo d'asta: | Asta in sala |
| Data: | 24.03.2014 - 16:00 |
| Luogo dell'asta: | Wien | Palais Dorotheum |
| Esposizione: | 18.03. - 24.03.2014 |