Anthropo- / zoomorphic face mask
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Lot: 307
97th AuctionAnthropo- / zoomorphic face mask
D. R. Congo, Ituri, Ndaaka / Bira
| Provenance | Size | Starting price / estimated price |
|---|---|---|
| Marc Leo Felix, Brussels, Belgium Galerie Jahn, Munich, Germany Tom Levine (1945-2020), New York-Chelsea, USA |
H: 8.1 inch / 13.2 inch (with beard) |
4000 EUR
plus 27 % commission, VAT, transport and insurance |
wood, colour pigments, plant fibres, handwritten inventory number "FX91139", base
This mask is published in Marc Leo Felix's standard work on the distribution of polychrome masks in the Ituri region (1992, p. 237, fig. 29).
The face is made of thin wood. It shows a low bulging forehead. The elongated face is dominated by a large mouth opening with finely carved long teeth. Felix suspected that it probably represents an ape mask.
The face is covered with red and white spot painting, as is often found in the Ituri region.
Felix, Marc L., Ituri, Munich 1992, p. 237, fig. 29
