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- Masks
- No.02 Makonde Mapiko Mask
- Carved Wood Origin: Southern Africa (Mozambique region) Significant interpretation of the work: This mask is called a mapiko or lipiko mask, which in the language of the Makonde people, means "helmet mask." The lipiko mask, often referred to as the mapiko mask shows the depiction of a Makonde woman. The Makonde have a matrilineal social structure (meaning that their ancestry…
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- Masks
- No.03 Chokwe “Mwana Pwo” Mask
- Wood, red bicycle paint, raffia, metal, bamboo, glass beads Origin: South-central Africa (Congo region) Interesting facts: According to traditional Chokwe belief, ancestral spirits play the crucial role of providing for the needs of living descendants. The mwana pwo mask represents a female ancestor but is worn by a male dancer. This mask type represents the abundance associated with the women in Chokwe…
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- Masks
- No.04 Lega Mask
- Wood Interesting facts: In the forests of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, art is created primarily for semisecret associations of men and women, such as the Bwami society of the Lega peoples. The teachings of Bwami permeate all aspects of life, guiding the moral development of the individual and governing relations with others. Bwami doctrine is represented by wood…
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- Masks
- No.05 Chokwe “Mwana Pwo” Mask
- Wood, raffia, brass, paint Origin: South-central Africa (Angola region) Interesting facts: According to traditional Chokwe belief, ancestral spirits play the crucial role of 'providing' for living descendants. The mwana pwo mask represents a female ancestor but is always worn by a male dancer. This mask type represents the abundance associated with the women in Chokwe society and is worn to pay…
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- Masks
- No.06 Bamana Mask
- Wood, seeds, clay, beads, hessian Origin: West Africa (Mali region) Interesting facts: Aw ye gweleya aw daw la, da de jugu ye "Close your mouth firmly, close your mouth; the mouth is the enemy" So go the lyrics of the ritual song that teaches the lesson of keeping secrets in Bamana culture. The Ntomo society is a five year period…
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- Masks
- No.07 Tabwa Helmet
- Wood, cowrie shells Origin: DRC region Interesting facts: This anthropomorphic female mask is in some way the counterpart of the male mask Buffalo with large lateral horns, well known in the ancient Tabwa arts. It represents the female ancestor and dances in rituals. The face is scarified with lateral lines and the cap is very nicely designed. In each eye…
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- Masks
- No.08 Tabwa Helmet
- Wood, pigment, cowrie shells, metal Origin: West Africa (DRC region) Interesting facts: Tabwa masks are rare and this one specifially is represented by the anthropomorphic wooden helmet mask. The category represents the female ancestor (Musangwe), symbolizing fertility. The name Musangwe is related to promiscuity. Tabwa figural sculptures represent ancestors who were to assist in daily activities and during the hunt.…
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- Masks
- No.09 Pende Pumbu Mask
- Wood, raffia Origin: Central Africa (DRC region) Interesting facts: The Pumbu mask expresses the power and authority of a chief. The mask's design is geometric and hypnotic - intended to intimidate onlookers. The mask appears in a dance performed in times of social crisis when a chief needs to reassert his authority. Notable patina and signs of use.
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- Masks
- No.10 Songye/Luba Mask
- Wood Origin: West Africa (Congo region) Interesting facts: When one asks Songye men what a Kifwebe mask represents, the answers will vary greatly, but the gist will be that the mask basically depicts supernatural beings, such as ancestor spirits (katotoshi) visiting their descendants: a beautiful fertile woman on one hand and a strong virile man on the other hand. Many,…
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- Masks
- No.11 Dogon Mask
- Wood, Metal, Sisal rope Origin: West Africa (Mali Region) Significant interpretation of the Work: The highly revered Dogon masks according to the Dogon serve as a connection between the afterlife and earth. This piece is a Rasmussen Mask and remains unique in its construction and naturalism of the seated male character which surmounts it. This character is reference to Yasigine, a…
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- Masks
- No.20 Makonde Helmet Mask with Taqiyah Carving
- Wood Origin: Southern Africa (Tanzania) Interesting facts: The Arabic influence in Makonde culture is apparent from the Taqiyah (cap) and absence of traditional scarification.
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- Masks
- No.21 Makonde Helmet Mask
- Wood, human hair Origin: Southern Africa (Mozambique) Interesting facts: Unusual in that it does not have scarification but bears the traditional lip plug.