Anthropomorphic face mask "nsembu" - D. R. Congo, Northern Congo, Kumu

wood, kaolin, base

According to field observations made by Kumu specialist Father W. de Mahieu in 1973, the Kumu masks dance in pairs called "nsembu". The male mask is called "biangolo" and the female "ibole" (Felix, 2016, p. 280).
H: 24 cm, H: 9,4 inch

Provenance:
Christophe Rolley, Bagneux, France
American Private Collection
Olivier Larroque, Nimes, France
Alex Arthur, Brussels, Belgium

Lit.: Felix, Marc Leo, Masks in Congo, Hong Kong 2016, p. 280
Continent: Africa
Condition Report: See description