A small ‘identity’ mask, called ‘Lukwakongo’. Such passport masks are owned by every member of the ‘Bwami society’ of the Lega, in eastern Congo: as identity, during ceremonies of the ‘Bwami’ worn on the temples or on the upper arm, or attached to a small, wooden fence before the beginning of ceremonies and initiations (so that everyone can see who has already arrived at the session). These identity masks also provide evidence of the rank of their owners within the ‘Bwami society’, and when their owner dies, his ‘Lukwakongo mask’ is placed on his grave.
The ‘Lukwakongo mask’ offered here is made of lightweight, light-coloured wood carved in typical Lega style: oval, with a heart-shaped face, with long, flat nose and small mouth. This face area was originally coloured by means of kaolin white, while the forehead and rim of the mask were in brown. Also the reverse of the small identity mask is coloured in brown. A special feature of this piece: the mask has no eyes. A rare type of the Lega masks. The mask is visibly old, with heavy colour scuffing of the white kaolin due to age, through protracted use two small, old breaks to the back rim of the mask, as well as with a shiny usage patina. Height: 14.4 cm; width: c. 8 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance:
South African private collection.

Lit.:
‘L’art des Lega’, catalogue Musée du Quai Branly Paris, ill. 180, 183 (the mask type without eyes).