24 - TWO MBUYA MASKS - DR Congo - Pende

TWO MBUYA MASKS - DR Congo - Pende Mid-20th century. Wood, patina, pigments (red, kaolin), raffia. Mask 1: Face with a prominent forehead, marked by a continuous eyebrow line carved in relief. The eyes are almond-shaped, half-closed, and typically turned downward to express inner depth. The nose is short and slightly upturned. The mouth is narrow and straight, and the chin tapers to a point. Mask 2: A more compact face with a dark brown patina. It features the same continuous, raised eyebrows and geometric scarification patterns incised on the cheeks. The mouth is slightly parted, revealing pointed teeth. The original headdress is made of dark woven fabric forming an upper rim, edged with a shorter fringe of raffia. These masks belong to the Mbuya festive mask tradition, which—unlike the Mukanda initiation masks—were displayed in public and depicted comical or satirical characters from society. Dimensions: 50 cm. Condition: Signs of wear, visible patina from handling, minor surface erosion. Research and documentation: Coryse Mwape – Art historian specializing in ancient African art. Internal Ref. 1079 + 301