Adu Zatua - 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 downwards to the bridge of the nose. The ears, set 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. Since 1930, the helmet masks
of the northern Suku have a small fist that is clearly stated in the most recent masks. The wooden mask
is surrounded, horizontally, by a wide, long collar.

Provenance: Berthe Hartert collection
Argiles Collection, Barcelona