Mask

19th–early 20th century

Not on view

Returned to lender

This work of art was on loan to the museum and has since been returned to its lender.

The deeply meditative expression of this mask complements an nganga’s role in responding to his clients’ problems by seeking their underlying causes in consultation with the spiritual realm. This example is exceptional for details such as the delicate abstract patterns inscribed across the surface of the cap of leadership at the summit, the fully fleshed out ears that project from either side, and the scarlet tongue exposed directly above the narrow chin.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

Title: Mask
Date: 19th–early 20th century
Geography: Democratic Republic of the Congo; Republic of the Congo; Cabinda, Angola
Culture: Kongo peoples; Yombe group
Medium: Wood, pigment
Dimensions: H. 11 13/16 in. (30 cm), W. 6 3/4 (17.1 cm), D. 5 1/2 in. (14 cm)
Classification: Wood-Sculpture
Credit Line: Steven Kossak, The Kronos Collections, New York
Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing