Tribal mask - Kifwebe - complete of costume, cone and plumes - Songye - Democratic Republic of the Congo
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days
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12
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50
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Current bid
€ 340
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Dimitri André
Holds a postgraduate degree in African studies and 15 years experience in African art.
Estimate € 400 - € 450
 | €340 | |
|---|---|---|
| €160 | |
| €2 |
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Kifwebe mask from the Songye people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with a complete costume including cone and plumes; provenance: purchased in 1974 by Elvio Gostoli.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Ancient male Kifwebe mask complete of costume from Songye tribe, D. R. of Congo.
Dimensions: height: 35 cm; width: 19 cm; depth: 18.5 cm; with costume: height: 68 cm; width: 75 cm; depth: 49 cm.
Estimated age: 1970.
Provenance: purchased on 1974 by comboni father Elvio Gostoli. Acquired with a bunch of funerary posts from South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo and a group of Bongo stones from father Elvio Gostoli himself on 2010.
Type of wood: Ricinodendron Rautanenii.
Substances: the colours of the mask are a bit faded. The black dye has been identified as charcoal (“Lifito” in Basongye language). The white dye has been applied by the use of riverbed clay (known in Basongye language as “Ntoshi”), a type of clay similar to kaolin, mixed with yellow ochre (limonite dust). The red dye has been obtained from Bixa Orellana (annatto). The mask has been repainted several times, as usual for most of tribally used masks from Songye tribe. Looking carefully at the surface, it's possible to see three levels of colour, of which the last appears to be the white dye all over the mask.
The mask comes complete of its costume made by vegetable fibres, cone and plumes on it.
Overall condition: the mask shows general wear and light grey patina. The wood is very fragile due to its old age. Considering its age, the mask is in great shape.
A professional invoice with a picture of the object, as well as the aforementioned description, will be delivered with the lot.
Delivery by International Quick Pack.
Ancient male Kifwebe mask complete of costume from Songye tribe, D. R. of Congo.
Dimensions: height: 35 cm; width: 19 cm; depth: 18.5 cm; with costume: height: 68 cm; width: 75 cm; depth: 49 cm.
Estimated age: 1970.
Provenance: purchased on 1974 by comboni father Elvio Gostoli. Acquired with a bunch of funerary posts from South Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo and a group of Bongo stones from father Elvio Gostoli himself on 2010.
Type of wood: Ricinodendron Rautanenii.
Substances: the colours of the mask are a bit faded. The black dye has been identified as charcoal (“Lifito” in Basongye language). The white dye has been applied by the use of riverbed clay (known in Basongye language as “Ntoshi”), a type of clay similar to kaolin, mixed with yellow ochre (limonite dust). The red dye has been obtained from Bixa Orellana (annatto). The mask has been repainted several times, as usual for most of tribally used masks from Songye tribe. Looking carefully at the surface, it's possible to see three levels of colour, of which the last appears to be the white dye all over the mask.
The mask comes complete of its costume made by vegetable fibres, cone and plumes on it.
Overall condition: the mask shows general wear and light grey patina. The wood is very fragile due to its old age. Considering its age, the mask is in great shape.
A professional invoice with a picture of the object, as well as the aforementioned description, will be delivered with the lot.
Delivery by International Quick Pack.
Details
Era
1900-2000
Material
Wood
Country of origin
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Condition
Good condition - used with small signs of aging & blemishes
Ethnic group/culture
Kifwebe - complete of costume, cone and plumes - Songye
Height
35 cm
Width
19 cm
Sold with stand
No
Estimated period
1960-1970
