Ngbandi mask
€300.00
The African art of the Ubangian crucible
African mask from the northwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ubangi is made up of several intertwined ethnic groups (Zande, Ngbaka, ...) also straddling the border with the Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo. This mask can certainly be attributed to the Ngbandi given its collection in Ngbandi territory in 1960. This statement is confirmed by its similarity to the mask published in Felix (Marc Leo) & Andreas Jürgensen, "Masker - Magt og Magi. Dansemasker fra Zaire. / Masks - Might and Magic. Dance masks from Zaire ", Odense: Kunsthallen Brandts Klaedefabrik, 1997: 163, # 113 which has the same rectangular shape, as do the mouth and eyes, the ridged forehead, the crenellated nasal bridge and the little ears set high.
We do not know much about the exact ritual role of this mask, but it is possible that it participated in the rituals of circumcision.
Shipping fees
02078
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Circa 1960
- Size
- 33 cm
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood, kaolin
- Country
- Origin
- Tribal art collection Belgium
- Condition
- Excellent
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The African art of the Ubangian crucible
African mask from the northwest of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Ubangi is made up of several intertwined ethnic groups (Zande, Ngbaka, ...) also straddling the border with the Central African Republic and the Republic of Congo. This mask can certainly be attributed to the Ngbandi given its collection in Ngbandi territory in 1960. This statement is confirmed by its similarity to the mask published in Felix (Marc Leo) & Andreas Jürgensen, "Masker - Magt og Magi. Dansemasker fra Zaire. / Masks - Might and Magic. Dance masks from Zaire ", Odense: Kunsthallen Brandts Klaedefabrik, 1997: 163, # 113 which has the same rectangular shape, as do the mouth and eyes, the ridged forehead, the crenellated nasal bridge and the little ears set high.
We do not know much about the exact ritual role of this mask, but it is possible that it participated in the rituals of circumcision.