19th C. African Ituri River Painted Wood Mask

Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ituri River region, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A beautiful hand-carved and elaborately painted wooden mask from the Ituri rainforest, likely by the Mbuti or Ndaka peoples, and created to represent ancestral spirits during initiation ceremonies. The visage presents openwork narrow eyes and mouth, a high relief nose, a carved and painted drop-shaped adornment below the mouth, and painted white dots covering most of the 'skin'. Captivating for its form and painted designs, such a mask was traditionally worn by an elder who lead young males through various initiation rites to establish their adulthood. Size: 9.75" H (24.8 cm); 12.75" H (32.4 cm) on included custom stand.

Intended to be simultaneously powerful and attractive, masks like this were also traditionally lined with raffia, and the perforations lining the peripheries of this example were likely used for this. In addition, the painted designs of such masks have long been associated with the painted bark-cloth textiles of the Ituri pygmies.

See an Ituri mask with raffia at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (object number L.151.2010.4).

An Ituri River initiation mask sold for $4,800 at Bonhams New York (13 November 2007, lot 2608).

Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection; ex Dr. Paul Kavmart collection, Frankfurt, Germany

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#152956
Condition Report: Normal surface wear commensurate with age. Scuffs and areas of pigment loss, but painted decorations are generally well preserved.. Old nicks/chips to peripheries as shown. Perforations lining the periphery were likely once used to attach raffia. Wood has developed a nice patina.