Mbangu Disease Mask - Pende - DR Congo

Disease Mask Mbangu – Pende, D.R. Congo

Here is a Mbangu Pende, a powerful and meaningful typology, linked to themes of illness and rupture of balance. Everything here speaks: the black/white bipartition, the brutal contrast, and the visual tension that immediately captures the eye.

In ritual practices, these masks are part of a register where one shows what unsettles in order to better contain it: bodily disorders, crises, disorders (often invoked around epilepsy), and more broadly the fragility of life. The white refers to an altered state, to the world of the “out of norm,” while the black intensifies presence, shadow, gravity. The toothy, expressive mouth amplifies the idea of a force that surpasses the individual.

A rare mask in subject matter, and above all fascinating in its formal language: asymmetry, contrast and theatricality — a piece that never leaves anyone indifferent.

Presentation of our house of expertise:

Based in Belgium, our house of expertise and sale supports collectors and families for years, with a simple approach: seriousness, transparency and service. We enjoy a solid reputation among tribal art enthusiasts and are among the reference sellers on Catawiki, where we count among the oldest dealers (over 8 years).

We have expertised and insured the liquidation and dispersion of dozens of family collections, and sold thousands of objects in partnership with individuals, notaries, successions, inheritances and collection cessations. Our track record speaks for itself: several hundreds of evaluations close to 100% positive feedback, an indicator that says more than any speech about our commitment and reliability.

Pieces passed through our hands are today in prestigious collections and, for some, have joined museum institutions — proof of the quality and coherence of our selection throughout the year. We regularly offer auction sales without reserve prices.

Express shipping: shipment within 24 hours, insured, tracked and with extremely careful and secure packaging.

Contact 7 days a week: we respond quickly and remain at your disposal to advise you and document objects during the sale process.