Northern Bayaka - DR Congo
05
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€ 1
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Selected by Dimitri André
Holds a postgraduate degree in African studies and 15 years experience in African art.
Estimate € 500 - € 550
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Mask from the Bayaka del Norte people of R.D. Congo, dating from the mid-20th century, provenance: private collection.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
The face of this mask, completely whitewashed except for a few blue strokes around the eyes, ears and mouth, is reminiscent of the white masks of Ogoue in Gabon.
The mask, taking into account African colour symbolism, represents the spirit of a returned deceased, a rare theme in Yaka masks. As for the face of the mask, below a narrow forehead (framed laterally and superiorly by a slightly curved and simple hairline), from the eye sockets (in the shape of an elongated V that occupies the entire width of the face), there is a large nose with wide, pierced nostrils (the nose and line of the eye sockets together are shaped like a fleur-de-lis).
The eyes, in relief, almond-shaped, are not pierced and the pupils are marked by a slight depression inside the almond-shaped edge; the mouth, in the shape of an elongated heart, is open showing the teeth, well drawn, with the two upper central incisors filed in the shape of an inverted V; the chin is rounded with a sharp edge; the ears are two wide plates in strong relief.
The overall impression is one of introversion and amazement in a totally expressionist style.
The superstructure consists of an elongated vertical cone passing through two horizontal discs (the antennae are missing); the collar, wide and very long, is not made of raffia but of much thicker vegetable fibres, dark brown in colour.
Provenance: Berthe Hartert Collection
Argiles Collection, Barcelona
The face of this mask, completely whitewashed except for a few blue strokes around the eyes, ears and mouth, is reminiscent of the white masks of Ogoue in Gabon.
The mask, taking into account African colour symbolism, represents the spirit of a returned deceased, a rare theme in Yaka masks. As for the face of the mask, below a narrow forehead (framed laterally and superiorly by a slightly curved and simple hairline), from the eye sockets (in the shape of an elongated V that occupies the entire width of the face), there is a large nose with wide, pierced nostrils (the nose and line of the eye sockets together are shaped like a fleur-de-lis).
The eyes, in relief, almond-shaped, are not pierced and the pupils are marked by a slight depression inside the almond-shaped edge; the mouth, in the shape of an elongated heart, is open showing the teeth, well drawn, with the two upper central incisors filed in the shape of an inverted V; the chin is rounded with a sharp edge; the ears are two wide plates in strong relief.
The overall impression is one of introversion and amazement in a totally expressionist style.
The superstructure consists of an elongated vertical cone passing through two horizontal discs (the antennae are missing); the collar, wide and very long, is not made of raffia but of much thicker vegetable fibres, dark brown in colour.
Provenance: Berthe Hartert Collection
Argiles Collection, Barcelona
Details
Number of objects
1
Ethnic group/ culture
Northern Bayaka
Country of Origin
DR Congo
Period
Mid 20th century
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Fair condition
Height
110 cm
Provenance
Private collection
Authenticity
Original/official
