Rare KETE/KUBA Mask - Democratic Republic of Congo, former Zaire - Large Dancing Facial Mask
The Kete, a little ethnic group of 25,000 individuals, are established in the middle of former Zaire. The face is particularly full of brown-red crust under which we can still note some traces of ancient side scarifications. These crusts impressively patinate the mask. The open eyes are surrounded with red copper leaves, also patinated, adopting the form. The mouth, carved in lozenge by a forger-sculptor, is also covered with red copper foil, strongly patinated by wear and age.
Provenance: Former private collection, Amsterdam.
Kuba, KETE, Democratic Republic of Congo - First half of the 20th century.
26 x 16 cm.
There are pictures of a mask of the M. Merton D. Simpson Collection, NY (USA). Kuba/Kete, probably by the same artist.
Literature: 100 people of Zaïre. M. L. Felix. Pages 56/57 Figure 10.
- Object
- Dance mask
- Region/ country
- DR Congo
- Material
- Copper, Wood
- Period
- 1st half 20th century
- Condition
- Good
- Sold with stand
- Yes
- Dimensions
- 26×16×0 cm