A fine Lwalwa mask
provenance: Joachim Pecci, Brussels. Height: 27 cm.
Southeastern Congo (Zaire) , near the Salampasu, Kete and Luba. Masks of the
Lwalwa, a small group of agricultural and hunting people inhabiting areas of
Angola and Zaire, are used only during the secret male Ngongo initiation. There
are male and female Lwalwa masks. This is a female one with it's finely pointed
nose, the male ones have triangular noses.
The abstract face with cylindrical protruding mouth and remains of Kaolin, long
flat vertically protruding nose bisecting the slit eyes framed by C-shaped ears,
; exceptionally fine aged patina with , white and black pigment, underlying
reddish wood.
The majority of Lwalwa art in collections consists of beautifully sculpted masks, characteristically elongated, with prominent noses, rectangular eyes, and a small hole between the mouth and nose, through which a cord is passed in and clenched between the teeth of the dancer to secure the mask on a dancer's face during dances. Both boys and girls go through initiation to become responsible adult members of Lwalwa society . Some statues are also know among the Lwalwa but are quite rare. The overall composition of this fine Lwalwa mask is in perfect balance.
http://www.buyafricanantiques.com/lwalwa_mask.htm
Lwalwa
Information request of availability
+32
3 227.35.40, 