186 - DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO Tshimwana mask, Biombo style Baobab wood, red, white, and ochre pigments. The Biombo, a sub-ethnic group of the Bakété, are located in Mulua Province, DRC. The political, cultural, and stylistic influences of their close neighbors—the Pende, Kuba, Kété, Luluwa, and Leele—are very evident. However, their creations are characterized by distinctive motifs, a headdress consisting of three or four braids, upward-pointing triangles, and the use of the color red. This mask is unique in that it has a concave eye socket, surrounded by three red grooves. The Tshimwana mask is used in the funeral ceremonies of high-ranking dignitaries or during initiation rites. The hole under the nose was used to thread a string through, allowing the wearer to secure the mask with their mouth. H.: 38 cm