Mask - Zande - DR Congo

Ritual mask – Zande – Democratic Republic of the Congo

A mask with a striking presence, drawn from a rare stylistic corpus, at the crossroads of ritual, power, and family memory.

Mask attributed to the Zande people, Democratic Republic of the Congo, belonging to a rare and little-documented stylistic corpus, characterized by great formal sobriety and restrained expressive power. The massive face, with full volumes, features a straight, prominent nose, narrow pierced eyes, and a rectangular mouth, giving the whole an almost monumental, silent authority.

The surface of the wood bears an ancient, deep patina, punctuated by small studded inlays that highlight the facial features, a technique found on certain Zande masks linked to family rites, initiation societies, or the representation of protective ancestors. The deliberate austerity of the sculpture reinforces its ritual character and its distance from any decorative production.

This mask comes from a European family collection, having passed through the Congo between the 1960s and 1970s. This period corresponds to a phase of increased presence of civilian cooperants, teachers, engineers, and administrative staff in the newly independent Congo, as well as missions related to infrastructure, education, or international aid. It is quite plausible that the object was acquired at that time, directly on site, during a prolonged stay, before being kept within the family up to today.

Zande masks of this typology are particularly rare on the market, both due to their limited diffusion and their strong symbolic significance, which makes them highly sought after by discerning collectors and enthusiasts of ancient African art.

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We regularly assist with liquidations, estates, and dispersals of collections, in collaboration with individuals and families in Belgium and neighboring countries. Our approach is designed to be rigorous, transparent and accessible, with sales often offered without a reserve price.

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