Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Songye or Luba peoples, ca. mid-20th century CE. A strong wooden depiction of a rooster's head on a large, helmet-style mask. The rooster is depicted with a large comb and long, dangling wattles. The wooden back of the mask, painted white and heavily incised (whereas the rooster head is painted dark brown and smooth). Raffia and a woven textile net dangle from the front and back of the mask respectively, designed to obscure the wearer, who would be performing in a ritual dance relating to a secret society. A "tail" with a bundle of real chicken feathers projects off the back of the mask. Rooster (cock) symbolism is associated with the sun because of the animal's tendency to crow early in the morning, and so the animal is sometimes thought of as a creator spirit - but it may also stand in for the fear that the sun will not rise. Comes with custom stand. Size: 20" L x 9" W x 38.5" H (50.8 cm x 22.9 cm x 97.8 cm); height on stand: 62.5" (158.8 cm)

Provenance: private Alan Davis collection, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

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#124881

Patina on surface of wood with small losses to edges of crest