Máscara Hemba - Basuku del Norte - R.D. Congo

Human face helmet masks may or may not be crowned with a sculpted figure. The hairstyle may be naturalistic
or have complex triangular motifs incised into it. The face, which is somewhat concave, is painted white. The hairline follows the natural line of the forehead or, as in our case, curves down to the tip of the nose. The ears,
located high above the eyes and at the White edge of the face, are circular in shape and have large elliptical
holes. The eyes, curved, are long slits, and below each one there are three small painted grooves. The nose is small and triangular and has holes in it. The mouth is a small, elongated slit surrounded above and below by
small vertical grooves. There is no chin.

Provenance: Berthe Hartert
Argiles collection, Barcelona