Mask - Lega - DR Congo (No reserve price)

Carved, multi-faced (three-faced) wooden trunk mask from the Lega cultural area (also called Ware) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Lega peoples:

In the forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, art is produced mainly for semi-secret associations of men and women, such as the Bwami society of the Lega peoples. The Bwami teachings permeate all aspects of life, guide the moral development of the individual, and regulate relationships with others. The Bwami doctrine is represented by masks, heads, and small figures carved from wood and ivory, all of which play an important role in initiation into the highest ranks of society. Although the form is simple, these carved objects embody complex and diverse meanings, made clear through proverbs, sketches, and dances. The masks refer to ancestors and are passed down as symbols of the continuity from one generation of initiates to the next. For the Lega, physical beauty and moral excellence are inextricably linked.