Mask (1) - Wood - "Pwoom Itok" - Kuba - Congo DRC

Ex. private collection - Paris - France, circa 1930-1940 Size: 40x26x22 cm, Weight: 0,72kg Mask (pwoom itok) , early 20th century Headgear—including hats, hairpins, and headdresses—was one of the main insignia awarded to male Kuba titleholders in order to distinguish rank. Artists used hats and hairstyles to express a work’s position within the hierarchy of masks. This mask’s elaborate headdress—formed by a fabric-covered cane in a U-shape—is that of a high-ranking male warrior. White cowrie shells symbolize prestige and wealth, while the spray of brown and white-speckled feathers represents high titleholders. These masks were worn by masqueraders at initiations and burials to signify elders’ knowledge.