IMPORTANT MASQUE, LEGA/IDIMU, RÉPUBLIQUE... - Lot 64 - Binoche et Giquello
Lega mask, Republic democratic of the Congo
H. 13 in
Publication:
- Daniel P. Biebuyck, La Sculpture des Lega, Paris, Galerie Hélène et Philippe Leloup, 1994, pp. 174 - 176, n°67.
- Nancy Ingram Nooter et Warren M.Robbins, African Art in American Collections, Survey 1989 , Washington, D.C. and London: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1989, p. 481, n°1235.
- Joseph Cornet, Arts de l'Afrique noire au pays du Fleuve Zaïre, Bruxelles, Arcade, 1972, planche 141, p. 264
The Bwami society in the Lega world has its own initiation rites and brings cohesion and organisation to the society. Its aims are educational and humanist.
The large idimu masks are used in initiation ceremonies for the highest ranking bwami and are included in these ranks' collective material. They can be worn by an officer or hung from a banner with small masks for the ceremony.
This very important idimu mask has a heart-shaped face spilt by a nostril-free nose. Its beautiful black, red and white polychrome surface reflects its age and extensive cult use. The perforations framing the chin were used to fit a long beard with braided fibres. The inside is superb and consistent with its supposed great age.
Its western history and the many publications devoted to it show the interest in it and the importance that various authors gave it
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
Lega mask, Republic democratic of the Congo
H. 13 in
Publication:
- Daniel P. Biebuyck, La Sculpture des Lega, Paris, Galerie Hélène et Philippe Leloup, 1994, pp. 174 - 176, n°67.
- Nancy Ingram Nooter et Warren M.Robbins, African Art in American Collections, Survey 1989 , Washington, D.C. and London: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1989, p. 481, n°1235.
- Joseph Cornet, Arts de l'Afrique noire au pays du Fleuve Zaïre, Bruxelles, Arcade, 1972, planche 141, p. 264
The Bwami society in the Lega world has its own initiation rites and brings cohesion and organisation to the society. Its aims are educational and humanist.
The large idimu masks are used in initiation ceremonies for the highest ranking bwami and are included in these ranks' collective material. They can be worn by an officer or hung from a banner with small masks for the ceremony.
This very important idimu mask has a heart-shaped face spilt by a nostril-free nose. Its beautiful black, red and white polychrome surface reflects its age and extensive cult use. The perforations framing the chin were used to fit a long beard with braided fibres. The inside is superb and consistent with its supposed great age.
Its western history and the many publications devoted to it show the interest in it and the importance that various authors gave it
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
