Dance Mask - dense hardwood - Pende - D.R.C.

Exquisite Dance Mask – Eastern Pende – D. R. C. In fine state, but clearly much used over a long period of time. It dates to the 1930/1940 period. On stand. Provenance: Ex- collection of Jacques Blanckaert, Brussels. Acquired from him by H. Westerdijk around 1965. This fine little mask is an excellent example of the way the Eastern Pende of the Kasaye have reworked a classic Mbuya of the Central Pende into their own version . What remained are the overpowering arches of the eyebrows closing on the bridge of the nose, the central ridge on the forehead, the keloid ridges on both temples and the oval mouth with pointed teeth. Furthermore, the shape of the nose with its low bridge also follows a Western and Central Pende design. Typical Eastern elements are the bone-shaped eyes in their white orbits and the for the Kasaye Pende characteristic use of the triangles in black and white pattern on the cheeks. We also note that the head does not have the diamond shape of the masks to the west but is more ovoidal. Little is known on the function of this rare type other than that it is probably connected to initiation rites. Literature: M. L. Felix: 100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture, Brussels, 1987, pp,140-141. Dimensions: 28 x 18 x 11 cm. People/ Region: The Eastern Pende live in the Western Kasaye Province of East. Central D. R. C. Material: dense hardwood. Weight: 0. 455 kg. Sold with handwritten declaration of authenticity by Dr. P. Westerdijk, museum ethnologist and cultural anthropologist specialized, for over 50 years now, in the study of the material cultures in African nations that live south of the Sahara.