BWOOM - Shoowa-Kuba - Belgian Congo

Antique SHOOWA -KUBA Royal Mask. One of the three masks of the Kuba Royal Masquerade, the most important and immediately the most impressive. Stunning decoration in many mother-of-pearl shells and glass beads on raffia. In good condition. With a double chin flap! Actually tribally used, so we see the expected signs of wear. (see the tribal photos of the Masquerade!) The dimensions are: H. 37 W 25 cm. Authentic pieces like this are hardly offered anymore; we only see newer pieces appearing (also beautiful but from the early 21st century, not the previous!). Only when an older collection becomes available like this is there still a chance that such a piece is offered, and that happens less and less often. The trend has been noticeable for a while that these are becoming more expensive and that seems to be the outlook as well.\n\nPart of the special, select Shoowa Kuba collection of this collector, from his time studying the Kuba people in the Congo-Kasai.\n\nThe original collector was a Belgian anthropologist who studied the population of the Congo and, together with his wife and often with colleagues, regularly traveled to the Congo and other African countries such as Gabon. He was there in the colonial period of Belgian Congo up to independence in 1960. He collected a large collection of African art and ethnography. I acquired his collection in the early years when I was building my own collection. It grew into a very large collection. From time to time I still came across another old collection; that sometimes worked, it was the momentum! and then I expanded my own collection with the best pieces from such an old collection. I am now preparing to have my collection put up for sale because I am older now and also have less space. I posted some photos of this original collector; these are not included, but I can email them if desired.