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This luba kasai mask is not available, choose something else.
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A fine and rare Luba Lutchasi Kasai MaskVery few male Luba masks are known. Already at Sotheby's in 1975 this 50 cm high - 20 inch helmet mask is quite impressive and was already published in a catalogue in 1969 price: unavailable
luba kasai mask information request of availability
Scott Rodolitz, expert First owner was Walter Randell, a famous NY dealer in the 60's-early 70's Yale database : nr 0006580
In the time the description was the following :
New research showed this mask is probably not Songye, but coming from the Luba Lutchasi, an extinct tribe of the Luba -Kasai area, and very little is known about the ceremonies where it probably danced. Remains of offerings and blue white red & black pigments. The fact that there are two holes on the left and right of the nose indicates the use as a dance mask. On images taken from this mask in the '60s, you can see some fibers - remains of a costume- attached through the holes on the back (see images from the 19696 catalogue below on the right) . Used as a dance mask, it is probably representing one the old Luba King ancestors.
On the other side the Luba Hemba emigrated to the east. Around 1885, and after heavy battles with their neighbors the Chokwe and the Yaka, the Luba tribe was beaten and the Luba empire dismantled. The blue in the eyes of this mask shows influence of the Yaka or vice-versa. While the last published studies couldn't confirm a strong Luba empire and political power among surrounding tribes, a fact is sure, the Luba culture had great influence over the art of Kanyok (also named Bena-Kanyoka), Songye, Kusu, Zela, Lunda and Chokwe ... In the literature you can find a few Kanyok and Shankadi male helmet masks with strong resemblances to this fine Luba Kasai mask in David Norden's collection. Click the images below to enlarge
To illustrate the story above compare with this Luba Shankadi mask that was sold at Christie's, London, 29 June 1994. Lot 148, one of the other seldom male Luba masks known.
for a bibliography list visit Luba tribe books, Click the images below to enlarge
For more pictures and provenance details see also our complete pdf report on this mask
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African Art curated by: or comment at Buy African Art on Facebook David Norden is a private African art
dealer since 1992 who specializes in important works of art from African and
ancient cultures. All our items are sold with a free report with complete description, free delivery, 15 days money back guarantee, and six month exchange guarantee. You can pay us with Visa, Mastercard, Paypal, or money transfer.
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...The
Mende Bundu helmet is a significant addition to my collection,
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Coming
from the well known Jeff Lay collection that was put on the market by Sotheby's
it was published in a catalogue and exhibited at the end of the 60's at the
famous 
According
to Luc De Heusch the Luba king's ancestors have two possible origins the Hemba
or the Kunda the Luba empire did great migrations and conquests during the
eighteenth century: the Luba invaded the Kasai area but the Luba-Shankadi fixed
themselves on the left bank of the Zaire River.
+32
3 227.35.40
