A fine and rare Luba Lutchasi Kasai Mask

Very few male Luba masks are known. Already in a Sotheby's catalogue in 1975 this 50 cm high - 20 inch helmet mask is quite impressive when you see it in real. higher price  (five numbers).

price: higher price  (five numbers). luba kasai mask information request of availability

“It is a wonderful mask, by the way...”

Scott Rodolitz, expert

First owner was Walter Randell, a famous NY dealer in the 60's-early 70's

Yale database : nr 0006580

Coming from the well known Jeff Lay collection it was published in a catalogue and exhibited at the end of the 60's at the famous Carnegie Museum of Art in in Pittsburgh. In the time the description was the following :

*287. Helmet Mask
Baluba-Basonge (?)
Wood with coloring 20"
This mask is believed to date from the period prior to the separation of the Baluba and the Basonge tribes.
Accordingly, it evidences elements of both styles.

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  .

Used as a dance mask, it is probably representing the old Luba King ancestor.

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.

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.

Quite astonishing is the shape of the enormous ears and bulging eyes, inside the mask

To illustrate the story above compare with this Luba Shankadi mask that was sold at Christie's, London, 29 June 1994. Lot 148

for a bibliography list visit Luba tribe books, or listen to some Luba music:

For more pictures and provenance details see also our complete pdf report on this mask

 if you are interested in this mask that has a five number price tag

price: higher price  (five numbers). luba kasai mask information request of availability