**Originally Listed At $350**
Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Salampasu people, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. A hand-carved wooden face mask of an expressive style with openwork eye holes, a triangular nose with drilled nostrils, perky ears, and a mouth bearing two rows of sharpened teeth. The brown-painted mask also features a protruding forehead of the characteristic Salampasu style, a coiffure composed of 13 woven rattan balls, and a fibrous goatee suspended from a perforation in the chin. Masks like this example are marks of hierarchy that are accessible to men after they have passed through a circumcision ritual. Lucite display stand for photography purposes only. Size: 6.7" W x 12.5" H (17 cm x 31.8 cm)
Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection, acquired in 1987 from James Willis Gallery, San Francisco, California, USA
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to recent increases of shipments being seized by Australian & German customs (even for items with pre-UNESCO provenance),
we will no longer ship most antiquities and ancient Chinese art to Australia & Germany. For categories of items that are acceptable to ship to Australia or Germany, please contact us directly or work with your local customs brokerage firm.
Display stands not described as included/custom in the item description are for photography purposes only and will not be included with the item upon shipping.
#156703
Condition
Repair to chin from two pieces, with small chips and light adhesive residue along break lines. Minor abrasions to face, peripheries, and verso, with loosening to some fiber bindings and rattan balls, detachment of one rattan ball from headdress, and fading to scattered areas of pigment on face. Nice earthen deposits throughout and remains of pigment on face.