Lot: 416

81st Tribal Art Auction

Rare old mask

D. R. Congo/Gabon, border area, Ndjabi

Provenance Size Starting price / estimated price
H: 9.4 inch This object is not available anymore.

light wood, painted in white and black and red ochre, face with broad forehead and tapering chin, eyes nearly closed with narrow see slits, the mouth open, a small tounge visible between beautifully curved lips, coiffure with crest-like lobe, slightly dam. (nose, mouth), scratches;
present mask is an early work, probably around 1890/1900.
there are only a few masks known which are stylistically related to the present piece. One is published by Perrois, 1979, ill. 282. Another one was hammered at Sotheby's London in 1986 as lot 66.


Perrois, Louis, Arts du Gabon, Paris 1979, ill. 282 Sotheby's, London, 23 June 1986, lot 66