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Leana Nagel

Old African mask from the Pende, Congo.

Hand carved from a single piece of dark wood.

Height: 32 cm.

The Pende people (singular: Mupende; plural: Bapende), also known as the Phende people, are an ethnic group in the south-western Democratic Republic of the Congo. The Pende are divided into two cultural groups: the Eastern Pende and the Western Pende who are distinct but consider themselves part of the same ethnic group. The number of people who consider themselves to be ethnically Pende is estimated at over 250,000.

The Pende are divided into two distinct cultural groups: the Western Pende and the Eastern Pende. However, both groups see themselves as part of the same ethnic group. There is no centralised political authority and Pende society is organised around extended family groups rather than through chiefly authority.

Much like the Yaka and Suku peoples, the Pende originally lived in the strip between the Atlantic Ocean and the Cuanza River, in modern-day Angola. They migrated to their current region of the modern-day Democratic Republic of the Congo in around 1620 as a consequence of the expansion of the Kingdom of Lunda. In around 1885, the powerful Chokwe ethnic group began expanding and gained control over the Eastern Pende but this period was brought to an end by the arrival of European colonists and the creation of the Congo Free State.

The Pende speak their own language (Kipende) and are particularly known for their artistic works. They are considered to be culturally similar to the Yaka and Suku peoples who live in neighboring areas.The Pende have a matrilineal culture and family kinship plays an important role in structuring social relations. They traditionally practice a form of ancestor worship in which the ancestors (Mvumbi) are believed to affect prospects of success and failure in everyday life.

The Pende traditionally speak their own language, known as Kipende, which is part of the Central Bantu group. The Pende are particularly known for their art, which is complex and includes traditional masks, associated with initiation rituals. Artists play an important role in society, they are looked at as just as important as nobles and receive a gift of having the first portion of food from the harvest. This privilege is usually only reserved for clan chiefs

Excellent condition

African mask from the Pende - Congo.  (No reserve price)

African & Tribal Art

Reserve price

No reserve price

Closing date

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tomorrow

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today

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Location

France

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Size

S (10–40 cm)

M (40–80 cm)

XS (under 10 cm)

L (over 80 cm)

Dimensions

Height

Width

Depth

Object

Tribal art and objects

Tribal sculptures statues carvings and figurines

Tribal masks

Figure

Sculpture

Dance mask

Book

Textile

Tribal weaponry and shields

Fetish figure

Painting

Statue

Tribal mask

Mask

Carving

Stool

Puzzle

Headdress

Necklace

Print

Cross

Ancestor figure

Headrest

Country of origin

DR Congo

Mali

Nigeria

Congo

Côte d’Ivoire

Ghana

Côte d'Ivoire

Benin

Burkina Faso

Gabon

Cameroon

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Africa

Angola

Togo

Chad

Ethiopia

Haiti

Madagascar

Tanzania

Sierra Leone

Zimbabwe

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Guinea

Material

Wood

Bronze

Terracotta

Iron (wrought)

Copper

Leather

Metal

Iron

Patinated bronze

Bone

Brass

Stone

Shell

Steel

Horn

Rattan

Gilt brass

Cast brass

Wrought iron

Aluminium

Clay

Stone (mineral stone)

Textiles

Cotton

Gender

Unisex

Women

Condition

Good condition

Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes

Fair condition

Fair condition -  heavily used & with possibly minor parts missing

Good

Excellent condition: barely used with minimal signs of wear

Good condition - used with small signs of ageing

Needs restoration

Very good

As new

Very good condition - slightly used with small signs of wear

Good condition - used with some signs of wear

Good condition, used with some signs of wear

Very good condition, see description

Good condition, see description

Very used condition, used with visible signs of wear

Fine

Fair

Very good condition, slightly used with small signs of wear

Extras

No extra's

Dust jacket

Period

Late 20th century

Mid 20th century

Early 20th century

1940-1950

1930-1940

Late 19th century

2000-2010

1920-1930

1960-1970

1970-1980

1950-1960

1990-2000

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1850-1900

1900-1910

1800-1850

2010-2020

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1400-1450

1500-1550

1650-1700

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Certification

No laboratory report

Subject

History

Portrait

Summer scene

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Female figures

Colonial history

Style

Folk Art

Naive Art

Antique inspired

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African & Tribal Art

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African mask from the Pende - Congo. (No reserve price)

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