Lega Mask - League - DR Congo
05
days
18
hours
14
minutes
17
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Dimitri André
Holds a postgraduate degree in African studies and 15 years experience in African art.
Estimate € 210 - € 240
No bids placed
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 141582 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Máscara Lega, a 31 cm high wooden mask with feathers from the Lega culture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, dating to the mid-20th century, provenance Colección privada.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
This mask is special, as it does not correspond to the classic prototype of Lega masks. The shape is oval, the forehead broad and furrowed with rows of small round holes, each row forming a fleur-de-lis with the nose as the stem; the lower rows delineate semicircular upper eye sockets, deep and very wide, within which there are large, bulging, oval eyes, open with two eyebrows marked by notches; the nose, long and rectangular, with a flat upper part with notches, crossed lines representing tribal tattoos; the cheeks, full, convey a sense of abundance; at the end of the nose and cheeks, a slightly protruding mouth, open, elongated elliptical in shape, with teeth marked with notches around their entire perimeter; the chin, broad, ends in a point at the oval of the face. From the remains, it appears that the mask had a beard of white feathers. It shows clear signs of tribal use.
Provenance: Medicus Mundi missionaries
Argiles Collection, Barcelona
This mask is special, as it does not correspond to the classic prototype of Lega masks. The shape is oval, the forehead broad and furrowed with rows of small round holes, each row forming a fleur-de-lis with the nose as the stem; the lower rows delineate semicircular upper eye sockets, deep and very wide, within which there are large, bulging, oval eyes, open with two eyebrows marked by notches; the nose, long and rectangular, with a flat upper part with notches, crossed lines representing tribal tattoos; the cheeks, full, convey a sense of abundance; at the end of the nose and cheeks, a slightly protruding mouth, open, elongated elliptical in shape, with teeth marked with notches around their entire perimeter; the chin, broad, ends in a point at the oval of the face. From the remains, it appears that the mask had a beard of white feathers. It shows clear signs of tribal use.
Provenance: Medicus Mundi missionaries
Argiles Collection, Barcelona
Details
Number of objects
1
Ethnic group/ culture
League
Country of Origin
DR Congo
Period
Mid 20th century
Material
Feathers, Wood
Sold with stand
No
Condition
Good condition
Title of artwork
Lega Mask
Height
31 cm
Provenance
Private collection
