Online catalogue for the 68th tribal art auction

221 Mask "nsembu"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Kumu

light wood, matt patina, polychrome paint, incised scarification marks, painted with dots, pierced around the rim, dam., missing parts, traces of abrasion; masks of the Kumu are called "nsembu" or "ibole"; they appear in paired dances that contrast male and female roles during initiation into the "nkunda" divination society.

H: 34 cm
H: 13.4 inch

Provenance
Jean Gürr, Geneva, Switzerland
Eduard Hess, Basel, Switzerland

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222 Mask "idimu"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Lega

wood, dyed with kaolin, now darkened, remains of dark brown accents, punched scarification marks, notches around the mouth, grassfibre beard, slightly dam., missing part at the left rim, crack; Lega masks fall into the category of "bwami" initiation objects. There are five different types: "lukwakongo", "kayamba", "idimu", "muminia", and "lukungu". They serve as an important marks of rank, identifying the owners as members of specific "bwami" levels. The "idimu" mask is owned collectively and is kept by an appropriate member of "yananio" or "kindi". In a major performance , the "idimu" mask is hung from a fence surrounded by the smaller, individually owned "lukwakongo" masks.

H: 27 cm
H: 10.6 inch

Provenance
Mrs. Orsinger (1991)
collected in situ 1936 by her father; he got it from Pene Misenga, the District Chief of Schabunda in the Maniema region.
Eduard Hess, Basel, Switzerland

Literature
E. L. Cameron, Art of the Lega, Los Angeles 2001, p. 178 f.

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223 Mask

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Lega

bone (kneecap of an elephant), blackish brown patina, heart-shaped facial plane, plant fibre beard, min. dam.

H: 12 cm
H: 4.7 inch

Provenance
Helmut Zimmer, Zurich, Switzerland (1987)
Eduard Hess, Basel, Switzerland

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224 Mask "lukungu"

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D. R. Congo, Lega

bone, honey brown patina, of oval form, decorated with tribe-typical circle ornaments with central drilling, min. dam., minor missing parts, fissures; "lukungu" masks belong to members of "bwami"- society who already have reached the highest rank of kindi. "Lukungu" means "skull" and should be a hint that the mask is thought to remind of deceased "kindi" members.

H: 11,5 cm
H: 4.5 inch

Provenance
Eduard Hess, Basel, Switzerland

Price: 1500 - 2500 €

225 Mask "lukwakongo"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Lega

light brown wood, kaolin with shiny particles, black paint remains, the facial plane subdivided by an elongated nose ridge, min. dam., minor missing parts, slight traces of abrasion; young men received the "lukwakongo" masks during the "yananio" rites. These masks were the most important insignia of rank until the owner moved to the higher level of "kindi" and trades his wooden mask for an ivory one, called "lukungu".

H: 19 cm
H: 7.5 inch

Provenance
Eduard Hess, Basel, Switzerland

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226 Mask

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Lele

wood, red and white paint, u-shaped, the eye zone accentuated by double arched brows and tube-shaped protrudings on both sides, dotted painting, drillings around the rim, rep., min. dam., slight traces of abrasion; the Lele are decisively influenced by neighbouring Kuba groups, which makes it difficult to differentiate their ritual artworks from those of the other Kuba kinsmen. Typical however, are shield-shaped, flat masks, painted in various colours, and with slit pierced eyes, several eye brows, and small mouths.

H: 32 cm
H: 12.6 inch

Provenance
Eduard Hess, Basel, Switzerland

Exposed in
Oberwil 1990

Literature
Felix, Marc L., 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brüssel 1987, p. 74 f.

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227 Mask "mfondo"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Lualwa

wood, brown patina, kaolin, of concave oval form, an elongated medial nose framed by rectangular eyes, dam., missing part (left protruding), fissures, slight traces of abrasion; the small hole underneath the nose was used for attachment of a string, serving to hold the mask with the teeth and fix it in front of the face. These masks were used for initiation of the young boys of the "ngongo" society as well as for fertility- and hunting rites.

H: 31 cm
H: 12.2 inch

Provenance
Eduard Hess, Basel, Switzerland

Sold.

228 Mask "mfondo"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Lualwa

wood, polychrome paint, of hollowed oval form with rectangular eyes, triangular scarification marks on the cheeks, min. dam., minor missing parts, slight traces of abrasion

H: 30 cm
H: 11.8 inch

Provenance
Rive Gauche, Brussels, Belgium (1973)
Eduard Hess, Basel, Switzerland

Sold.

229 Calabash figure "mabwe lugullu"

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Luba

wood, reddish brown patina, encrusted black paint in some areas, female half figure on disc-shaped base with drilled holes and remains of a fine plaited rotan collar, incised scarification marks on the face and around the navel, cylindrical receptacle on top of the head, min. dam., cracks (left side of the head and base); the "mabwe lugullu" figure originally surmounted a calabash. It is used for divination by members of the "bugabo" society. Magic derives from a hole for fetish materials on top of the head. The figure is a genre of "nkisi" used in "bugabo", an association important during early colonial years among eastern Luba and their neighbours. "Bugabo" members specialized in hunting, healing, and combating crime, and the society is remembered for its divination techniques and potent medicines.

H: 28 cm
H: 11 inch

Provenance
Émile-François Chambon, Geneva, Switzerland
Eduard Hess, Basel, Switzerland

Literature
Cornet, Joseph, A survey of Zairan Art, The Bronson Collection, Raleigh 1978, ill. 172
Roberts, Allen F., Luba, Mailand 2007, pl. 53

Sold.

230 Standing male amulet figure

This object is not available any more.

D. R. Congo, Lulua

wood, dark brown patina, red pigment remains, of typical form with accentuated navel and scarification marks at the neck, hole on top of the head, min. dam., fissures, slight traces of abrasion, on wooden base; such small protective figures served the general well being, brought luck and beauty, should protect pregnant women and increase fertility.

H: 16 cm
H: 6.3 inch

Provenance
Paul Timmermans, Diepenbeek, Belgium
René David, Basel, Switzerland (1971)
Eduard Hess, Basel, Switzerland

Sold.