Soko Mutu mask - Hemba - Congo
€195.00
Chimpanzees are rarely featured in African art because their resemblance to humans can be unsettling. Exceptions are the misi gwa so'o or soko mutu masks of the Hemba. The exaggerated features of the half-human, half-chimpanzee mask contrast greatly with the noble and reserved ancestral figures of the classic Hemba style. The wide, open mouth and raised eyebrows were not meant to be comical, but rather fearsome and terrifying. Misi gwa so'o masks were used at funerals to symbolize the presence of death.Origin : private collection, BelgiumDating : 1960'sSize : 31 x 19 cmMaterial : wood
Shipping fees
00282
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- Mid XXth century
- Size
- Ethnic group
- Hemba
- Material(s)
- Wood
- Country
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Origin
- Tribal art collection Belgium
You might also like
Chimpanzees are rarely featured in African art because their resemblance to humans can be unsettling. Exceptions are the misi gwa so'o or soko mutu masks of the Hemba. The exaggerated features of the half-human, half-chimpanzee mask contrast greatly with the noble and reserved ancestral figures of the classic Hemba style. The wide, open mouth and raised eyebrows were not meant to be comical, but rather fearsome and terrifying. Misi gwa so'o masks were used at funerals to symbolize the presence of death.Origin : private collection, BelgiumDating : 1960'sSize : 31 x 19 cmMaterial : wood