Items Similar to Female Kifwebe Mask with old collection label, Luba-Songye People, DR Congo

African Dan Passport Family Mask - Carved Wooden Mask from West Africa

African Songye Luba Congo Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe Wood Carved Ceremonial Dance Mask

African Katanda Mask – Lega Tribe, DR Congo – Mid 20th Century

Songye Female Large Wood Kifwebe Mask with White, Black, Provenance, DRC Africa

Dance mask, Kifwebe, Songye, Congo

Very Rare African Dagara Mask Ngbaka People DR Congo Early to Mid 20th Century

Want more images or videos?

Request additional images or videos from the seller

1 of 7

Female Kifwebe Mask with old collection label, Luba-Songye People, DR Congo

$11,076.27

£8,194.32

€9,911VAT Included

CA$15,330.11

A$15,385.85

CHF 8,971.97

MX$187,047.17

NOK 103,096.81

SEK 106,029.80

DKK 71,287.98

About the Item

Traditionally, Kifwebe masks were created and worn by members of the secret masking society, Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe, of the Luba and the Songye People living in the central part of the Congo. They danced, representing spirits connecting this world with the spirit world. These masquerades were performed during rites associated with funerals and initiations, serving to rid the community of evil presences. Kifwebe masks represent abstracted male or female beings. Angular and thrusting forms characterize both types, and in both cases, the entire face is covered in patterns of geometric grooves that are uniquely characteristic of these masks. The face of typical Kifwebe masks is covered with linear incisions, a square protruding mouth and a linear nose set between globular pierced eyes. According to the specialists, Kifwebe masks are not only differentiated by their shape and size but also by the basic surface colouration and the decorative design and patterns on the surface. The masks said to represent a female are rarer than masks supposed to depict a male. Female masks, such as this one, will have no sagittal crest or perhaps a slightly raised flat one. They are directly related to the physical world and procreation; their task is to invoke benevolent spirits that will influence the future generation. They exude beauty, tranquillity and inner peace and are not aggressive in appearance. The female Kifwebe mask with a projecting mouth, triangular nose and almond-shaped eyes has an overall hourglass shape. It is completely covered with concentric linear carvings divided by a black vertical stripe running from the top of the head, over the nose, and up to the mouth. Contrary to most female Kifwebe masks, this one is dark brown. Patina with wear and age to the wood suggests this is a particularly early example, used for a long period of time. Perfect in combination with modern and contemporary art Provenance: Old collection label

Dimensions:
Height: 24.41 in (62 cm)Width: 9.06 in (23 cm)Depth: 6.3 in (16 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Wood,Hand-Crafted
Place of Origin:
Congo, Democratic Republic of the
Period:
20th Century
Date of Manufacture:
-
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses.
Seller Location:
Leuven , BE
Reference Number:
Seller: 20061stDibs: LU3301138807472

More From This Seller

View All

Luba, Hemba People, DRC, Helmet Mask, Provenance Collection Sulsenti, 1930s

Located in Leuven , BE

This unusual mask reproduces the feature of the sculpture of the north-eastern Hemba. The mask was collected at Karambare in the 1930s by Dr. R. Sulsenti, at the time practicing in t...

Category

Vintage 1920s Congolese Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Anang/Ibibio Ekpo cult Ancestor dance Mask Anang/Ibibio People Nigeria

Located in Leuven , BE

Anang/Ibibio Ekpo cult Ancestor dance Mask , Anang/Ibibio People ,Nigeria Maud et René Garcia Paris-Harrie Heinemans Collection Museum Berg & Dal-1984 Martin Lagrain AHDRC ao-...

Category

Early 20th Century Nigerian Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood

Ethnodesign Katoyo Mask representing the "Foreigner" with headdress from Angola.

Located in Leuven , BE

This unusual Chokwe mask is probably Katoyo, representing non-Chokwe individuals. The deviation of the mask from the more common Chokwe masks is mainly because they represent Portugu...

Category

Early 20th Century Angolan Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Wood, Fabric

Ethnic Design- Decorative Night Society Mask, Grasslands, Cameroon.

Located in Leuven , BE

Bamileke Decorative Dance Crest, embroidered with European Glass Beads, Grasslands People, Cameroon. Private collection Brussels The raffia splint is covered with cloth and colou...

Category

Mid-20th Century Cameroonian Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Beads, Leather

Ethnic Design-Horned Gyè mask, Yauré People, Ivory Coast.

Located in Leuven , BE

Horned Gyè mask, Yauré People,Ivory Coast.

Category

Mid-20th Century Ivorian Figurative Sculptures

Materials

Hardwood

Female Head statue - Ejagham People, Nigeria

Located in Leuven , BE

Considered to be the originators of this accomplished leather-on-wood technique, which is also used by their neighbours Idoma, Boki, Igala and Bangwa, the Ejagham wanted to achieve a...

Category

20th Century Nigerian Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

African Kifwebe Mask with Pigmented Decoration, Songye People

Located in Nottingham, GB

Among the most iconic sculptural traditions of Central Africa, the Kifwebe masks of the Songye people are celebrated for their striking abstraction and powerful ceremonial presence. ...

Category

Mid-20th Century Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Songye Female Large Wood Kifwebe Mask with White, Black, Provenance, DRC Africa

Located in Point Richmond, CA

Carved wood large female Songye Kifwebe mask with classic white lines, blackened ridge down crest of forehead, nose and mouth. Worn holes around back edge of mask from attachment of...

Category

Mid-20th Century Congolese Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

Very Rare African Dagara Mask Ngbaka People DR Congo Early to Mid 20th Century

Located in Meer, VAN

Very rare African Dagara mask Ngbaka people. Africa, Congo, early to mid 20th century A beautiful early to mid 20th century African so called 'Dagara’ mask from the Ngbaka and Mbanj...

Category

Mid-20th Century Congolese Tribal Tribal Art

Materials

Wood

African Songye Luba Congo Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe Wood Carved Ceremonial Dance Mask

Located in Studio City, CA

A wonderful hand carved wood Kifwebe mask created by the Songye and Luba peoples of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Kifwebe mask are used by the Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe secret socie...

Category

Mid-20th Century Congolese Folk Art Masks

Materials

Wood, Paint

African Congo 20th Century Songye Kfwebe Mask, Carved Wood Design

Located in Queens, NY

African Congo 20th Century wood Songye Kfwebe Face Mask (to ward off supernatural threats) carved in circular form with painted decorative geometric grooves, an inlaid beaded pattern...

Category

20th Century African Tribal Sculptures and Carvings

Materials

Paint

Chokwe Mask – Mid 20th Century – Angola – African Tribal Art

Located in Ljubljana, SI

Bring home a piece of ancestral heritage with this authentic Chokwe mask from Angola, crafted in the mid-20th century. Rooted in deep cultural tradition, Chokwe masks were once used ...

Category