Bwami mask - Lega - DR Congo
03
days
08
hours
09
minutes
09
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Julien Gauthier
A decade of experience in historical arms, armour, and African art.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
No bids placed
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 140738 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Bwami Mask from the Lega Warega culture, DR Congo, carved wood with mineral pigments/kaolin, provenance: private collection of Lothar Heubel; dimensions 29 cm high by 20 cm wide by 10 cm deep; good condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Rare wooden mask of the Lega (Warega) – Bwami Society – DR Congo – From a private collection
Description:
Presented for bidding is a classic and expressive wooden mask of the Lega, also known as Warega or Rega, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The piece stands out for its refined abstraction and its consistent reduction to the essential traditional stylistic elements of Lega art.
The face is shaped in the heart-shaped form characteristic of Lega art. Notable are the harmonious proportions, the almond-shaped eyes pierced through, and the finely nuanced color play of the aged wood.
In the facial field are clearly visible remnants of the original kaolin-white finish. Such white applications were renewed in ritual contexts and gave the objects their characteristic appearance. On the forehead are precisely incised diamond-shaped tattoo or scar patterns.
Cultural background & function:
The masks of the Lega were not used as classical dancing masks worn directly in front of the face. Rather, they were connected with the Bwami Society, a hierarchically organized association that profoundly shaped the Lega’s social, ethical, and moral life.
During ritual gatherings and initiation ceremonies, the masks were held in the hand, attached to the body, or presented on the ground or at designated places.
The objects were closely linked to ideas of ancestors, wisdom, social rank, and moral values, and carried an important symbolic and ceremonial significance within the Bwami Society.
Provenance:
From the private collection of Lothar Heubel.
Details & measurements:
Culture / People: Lega (Warega / Rega)
Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa
Material: wood, mineral pigments / kaolin
Height: 29 cm
Width: 20 cm
Depth: 10 cm
Condition: Attractive, authentic collector’s condition with age-related patina and natural wear in the facial field.
Note: The display stand shown in the photos is for decoration only and is not part of this auction. Sale is without stand.
Shipping:
Shipping is securely packed via DHL as a insured package including a tracking number (Tracking).
Rare wooden mask of the Lega (Warega) – Bwami Society – DR Congo – From a private collection
Description:
Presented for bidding is a classic and expressive wooden mask of the Lega, also known as Warega or Rega, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The piece stands out for its refined abstraction and its consistent reduction to the essential traditional stylistic elements of Lega art.
The face is shaped in the heart-shaped form characteristic of Lega art. Notable are the harmonious proportions, the almond-shaped eyes pierced through, and the finely nuanced color play of the aged wood.
In the facial field are clearly visible remnants of the original kaolin-white finish. Such white applications were renewed in ritual contexts and gave the objects their characteristic appearance. On the forehead are precisely incised diamond-shaped tattoo or scar patterns.
Cultural background & function:
The masks of the Lega were not used as classical dancing masks worn directly in front of the face. Rather, they were connected with the Bwami Society, a hierarchically organized association that profoundly shaped the Lega’s social, ethical, and moral life.
During ritual gatherings and initiation ceremonies, the masks were held in the hand, attached to the body, or presented on the ground or at designated places.
The objects were closely linked to ideas of ancestors, wisdom, social rank, and moral values, and carried an important symbolic and ceremonial significance within the Bwami Society.
Provenance:
From the private collection of Lothar Heubel.
Details & measurements:
Culture / People: Lega (Warega / Rega)
Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central Africa
Material: wood, mineral pigments / kaolin
Height: 29 cm
Width: 20 cm
Depth: 10 cm
Condition: Attractive, authentic collector’s condition with age-related patina and natural wear in the facial field.
Note: The display stand shown in the photos is for decoration only and is not part of this auction. Sale is without stand.
Shipping:
Shipping is securely packed via DHL as a insured package including a tracking number (Tracking).
Details
Ethnic group/ culture
Lega
Country of Origin
DR Congo
Material
Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Title of artwork
Bwami mask
Sold by
