Lot 113
Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kuba people, likely Bushong, ca. early to mid-20th century CE. This is an amazing and visually striking headdress mask known as a mwaash aMbooy, composed of tightly woven raffia and cotton cloth, then covered with hundreds of glass beads, shells, and goat fur to create a stylized visage. The raffia cloth cap rests snugly on the top of the wearer's head, with a neck flap and tabs from the back, and a thick semi-circular ridge around the crown and protrusion to the left side, all studded with cowrie shells and tubular beads. The front brow panel contains the face: soft fur with a wooden nose covered in beadwork, arched white beaded eyebrows, large cowrie shells with a blue bead as the pupil, and a V shaped panel at the tip creates a chin or smiling lips, with tassels of goat hair around the edge. The beads are class seed and tubular trade beads in blue, white, black, yellow, green, red, and orange hues - the red nose and cloth trim add nice vibrancy to this piece! Size: 16" L x 13" W x 6.5" H (40.6 cm x 33 cm x 16.5 cm)
Provenance: private Englewood, Colorado USA collection; ex-Martin Boxer collection; ex-Komor Gallery, New York City, New York USA circa 1965
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#160619
- Condition: Fraying and losses to beading and shell a but most are intact and very tightly sewn. Some discoloration and staining to cloth as expected with age and use. Perforation to center interior of raffia dome, not visible from exterior. Fraying and losses to threading. Bird excretion on top and side.
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| $300 | $999 | $50 |
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| $5,000 | $9,999 | $500 |
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| $100,000 | $199,999 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 + | $20,000 |