H x W x D: 45.7 x 19.4 x 9.8cm (18 x 7 5/8 x 3 7/8in.)
Type:
Sculpture
Geography:
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Date:
Late 19th-early 20th century
Label Text:
This Songye panel with projecting kifwebe mask may be a shield. Like other kifwebe masks, the parallel incisions, projecting square mouth and contrasting black and white pigments emphasize its volume and geometric features. Named after the men's society and its mask, Kifwebe controlled the behavior of women and children and collected and redistributed wealth. Kifwebe masks came in both male and female form, with the male forms typically being more exaggerated and larger in size. The most important identifying feature of a kifwebe mask is the crest--male masks exhibit a crest that juts out above the head, whereas female masks always exhibit a flat crest. The kifwebe mask on this panel, or shield, is likely female.
Description:
Wood rectangular panel with rounded corners and concave long sides, and a high detached relief of a kifwebe mask. White, black concentric rings decorate the panel, with the ends in natural wood.
Provenance:
Albert Mons, Liege, Belgium before 1960
Eliot Elisofon, New York, 1960-1973
Content Statement:
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