Pende loango - Pende - DR Congo (No reserve price)

Between the Kwilu and the Loango, among the Pende, the realistic mbuya masks perform in a kind of comedy at the return of the initiates. During this “dance,” a series of individualized masks appears that caricature very specific people. The function of the sculptor is transmitted from father to son. The ancestors are honored through masked celebrations. The Western Pende style, that of Kwilu, is characterized by mbuya masks with heavy eyelids, a continuous line of eyebrows, a domed forehead, upturned nose, and a drooping mouth. These masks depict the various temperaments of the villagers. They number about twenty in this category. Some important mbuya masks participate in healing rites. Among the Pende, artists are recognized as having mysterious gifts. They thus enjoy a high status in society. The mask of the chief and judge, fumu, bears a distinctive four-point headdress. Its face is covered with red tukula powder and bears the tribe’s scarifications. During its performance, it holds a fly-swatter in its hand. It dances in a solemn “lion-like” manner. The fumu mask is a subject often depicted on ikkho ivory pendants (ikhoko). Pende disease masks are singular and interesting to study. The mask may portray an enchanted character, mentally unbalanced. It may be that the black-and-white asymmetric mbangu masks, relatively frequent, are not only bearers of deforming diseases; they would represent bewitched beings, victims of sorcery. Outside of performances within the mbuya context, this mask was to be used by a healing practitioner, for curative purposes or exorcism. Perhaps that was even its sole function.