Mask - Lega - DR Congo (No reserve price)

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€ 1
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Julien Gauthier
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Selected by Julien Gauthier

With almost a decade of experience bridging science, museum curation, and traditional blacksmithing, Julien has developed a unique expertise in historical arms, armour, and African art.

Estimate  € 150 - € 200
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FRBidder 6623
€1

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Mask titled Maske from the Lega people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, carved in wood, 26 cm high, 16 cm wide, 11 cm deep, weighing 380 g, from a private collection, in fair condition, sold without a stand.

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Description from the seller

Mask (Bwami, Lukungu) (wood 26 cm)
Lega peoples
In the forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, art is created mainly for semi-secret associations of men and women, such as the Bwami society of the Lega peoples. The teachings of Bwami permeate all aspects of life, guiding the moral development of individuals and regulating relationships with others. The Bwami teachings are represented through masks, heads, and small figures made of wood and ivory, all of which play an important role in initiation into the highest classes of society. Although the form is simple, these carved objects embody complex and diverse meanings, which are illustrated through proverbs, sketches, and dances. The masks refer to ancestors and are passed down as symbols of continuity from one generation of initiates to the next. For the Lega, physical beauty and moral excellence are inseparably linked.

Mask (Bwami, Lukungu) (wood 26 cm)
Lega peoples
In the forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, art is created mainly for semi-secret associations of men and women, such as the Bwami society of the Lega peoples. The teachings of Bwami permeate all aspects of life, guiding the moral development of individuals and regulating relationships with others. The Bwami teachings are represented through masks, heads, and small figures made of wood and ivory, all of which play an important role in initiation into the highest classes of society. Although the form is simple, these carved objects embody complex and diverse meanings, which are illustrated through proverbs, sketches, and dances. The masks refer to ancestors and are passed down as symbols of continuity from one generation of initiates to the next. For the Lega, physical beauty and moral excellence are inseparably linked.

Details

Ethnic group/ culture
Lega
Country of Origin
DR Congo
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Fair condition
Title of artwork
Mask
Height
26 cm
Width
16 cm
Depth
11 cm
Weight
380 g
Provenance
Private collection
Sold by
AustriaVerified
3649
Objects sold
98.77%
protop

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