Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Western Pende, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A fascinating, hand-carved wood mask known as an mbuya mask, which are used to depict different characters during traditional rituals. This example is called mbangu and represents a person who is diseased - a condition the Pende often attributed to witchcraft or moral corruption. The distorted visage is bisected vertically by white and black pigments. This visual dualism is symbolic of the opposing forces of good and evil or illness and health with the white representing the spirits of the deceased and hope of recovery, while the black is sickness. The expressive vizard presents a contorted expression of heavy-lidded downcast eyes with openings for the user, a broad, twisted nose, and an open mouth dramatically angled to the wearer's left. Size: 8" W x 10" H (20.3 cm x 25.4 cm); 14.4" H (36.6 cm) on included custom stand.

Mbuya masks, like this one, were traditionally considered tools or transistors for facilitating communion between the worlds of the living and the dead. Since the mid-20th century however, they have mostly been used for entertainment during adult initiation rituals. The University of Michigan Museum of Art describes how one who wears a mbunga mask would perform during such a ritual, writing, "In order to emphasize the character’s infirmity during a dance, a performer limped on a cane and either wore a hump on his back pierced by an arrow or carried bows and and [sic] arrows upon his belt, a reference to metaphorically shooting one’s prey by casting an evil spell. Ultimately, the mbangu visually illustrates for audience members the belief that affliction is often the result of malice from others and can strike anyone at any moment; therefore, one should not ridicule those stricken but extend support and compassion."

Cf. Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, accession number 2014.159 and University of Michigan Museum of Art, accession number 2005/1.200.

A similar mbangu mask of slightly smaller scale with a raffia headdress was sold by Christie's London on February 8th, 2012 for 37,250 British sterling (equivalent to about $50,697) as lot 615 in their "Living with Art - A Private European Collection, Evening Sale" (Live Auction 8054).

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-Fily Keita collection, Los Angeles, California, USA

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#166675

Expected nicks and abrasions, commensurate with age and use. Old inactive insect holes. Otherwise, intact and excellent with impressive remaining pigments.