Late 19th C. African Songye Wooden Kifwebe Plank Mask

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Pre-Columbian | Tribal | Ethnographic

By Artemis Gallery

Apr 25, 2019

Set Reminder 2019-04-25 10:00:00 2019-04-25 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Pre-Columbian | Tribal | Ethnographic https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/pre-columbian-tribal-ethnographic-4035
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• Lot Description
  Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Songye peoples, ca. late 19th to mid-20th century CE. A fabulous face mask, hand-carved from hard wood, protruding from its integral rectangular plank. The mask exhibits classic Songye features such as round, slit-form eyes, a jutting mouth with a central perforation, an angular chin as well as a rounded pate, and a prominent triangular nose which extends upwards and culminates in a central crest. Thick layers of dark-brown and chalky-white kaolin pigment adorn the mask and plank, though natural sections of unpainted, caramel-hued wood are delineated with incised grooves. A small pierced hole atop the plank houses a woven cord for suspension. Custom wooden display stand included. Size: 7.25" W x 12.5" H (18.4 cm x 31.8 cm); 17" H (43.2 cm) on included custom stand.
  
  Songye masks like this are known as "kifwebe," traditional masks worn by members of the secret Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe society that symbolize the connection of local ruling elites with spiritual powers. The elite in the Songye culture are seen as those who know and practice witchcraft and sorcery in the society, and the striated lines of the mask can be read by certain individuals to decode some of this mystical knowledge. Additionally, the size of the crest atop the head indicates the potency of the magical power contained within.
  
  For a stylistically-similar example, please see The Metropolitan Museum of Art, accession number 1979.206.83: https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/312287
  
  For another stylistically-similar example attached to a larger full-body costume, please see the Dallas Museum of Art, object number 1974.SC.42: https://collections.dma.org/artwork/5023828
  
  Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex-private California, USA collection
  
  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.
  
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  #141710

  Condition

  Old stabilization to a couple of fissures. Small chips and nicks to plank, head, chin, and nose/crest, with fading to original pigmentation, and minor abrasions, otherwise intact and excellent. Light earthen deposits and fabulous patina throughout.
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