Masque Mbangu - Pende - DR Congo

The Pende Mbangu African masks come from the Pende people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and belong to a category of masks known as “illness” masks.

These wooden carved objects, often polychrome with a strong contrast between white and black areas, stylize a face deformed by infirmity, paralysis, or epilepsy, traditionally regarded as the result of a bad spell or witchcraft: white symbolizes the hope of healing, black the illness or malignant action.

Presented by auction houses such as Christie’s or Lempertz, these masks testify to a very singular aesthetic conception, where asymmetry and distortion are expressed through powerful forms, sometimes grouped by specialists in modern art for their original recomposition of the human face.
In Pende culture, the Mbangu mask is worn during ritual dances—particularly in festive or initiation contexts—to teach compassion, remind people of human fragility, and ward off malevolent forces.

Introduction to our expertise firm

Based in Belgium, our appraisal and sales house specializes in African and ethnographic art. A leading seller on Catawiki for over 8 years, we enjoy a solid reputation and a track record of several hundred sales with a customer satisfaction rate close to 100%.

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.

Some pieces that have passed through our hands have joined international private collections and, for some, museum institutions.

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