Bembe - DR Congo
05
days
04
hours
44
minutes
14
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
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Selected by Dimitri André
Holds a postgraduate degree in African studies and 15 years experience in African art.
Estimate € 450 - € 500
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Wooden mask from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, linked to the Bembe people, dating to the early 20th century, with a height of 70 cm, in good condition, provenance from a private collection.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
This mask was acquired as a ‘witch-healer’ mask from the Bembé people. Judging by its shape and finish,
it appears to be pre-Bembé, from Basikasingo. It has a broad, rounded forehead; two large eye sockets, also
circular, one painted white and the other red; bulging, almond-shaped, open eyes, in the
brown-black of the mask, separated by a very elongated triangular nose with pronounced wings and
a central white stripe extending down the centre of the forehead to its end; on the forehead, starting
from the central white stripe, there is a red stripe over the white eye socket and a white one over the red eye socket; starting from the sides of the nose, white and red stripes alternate down to the beard, which runs from the eyes and frames the face; the mouth is open, with a straight lower part merging into the chin and a semi-elliptical upper part revealing the upper teeth; the entire mask is surrounded by a large raffia-like mane and beard.
Provenance: Mundo Africano, Barcelona
Argiles Collection, Barcelona
This mask was acquired as a ‘witch-healer’ mask from the Bembé people. Judging by its shape and finish,
it appears to be pre-Bembé, from Basikasingo. It has a broad, rounded forehead; two large eye sockets, also
circular, one painted white and the other red; bulging, almond-shaped, open eyes, in the
brown-black of the mask, separated by a very elongated triangular nose with pronounced wings and
a central white stripe extending down the centre of the forehead to its end; on the forehead, starting
from the central white stripe, there is a red stripe over the white eye socket and a white one over the red eye socket; starting from the sides of the nose, white and red stripes alternate down to the beard, which runs from the eyes and frames the face; the mouth is open, with a straight lower part merging into the chin and a semi-elliptical upper part revealing the upper teeth; the entire mask is surrounded by a large raffia-like mane and beard.
Provenance: Mundo Africano, Barcelona
Argiles Collection, Barcelona
Details
Number of objects
1
Ethnic group/ culture
Bembe
Country of Origin
DR Congo
Period
Early 20th century
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Height
70 cm
Provenance
Private collection
Authenticity
Original/official
