The Salampasu (or Basalampasu) in southwestern Congo are famous for their powerful mask style. The present mask, called 'Kasungu', displays the typical tribal features: an arched forehead, a large, short nose, angular eyes, coloured in white, pointed teeth in a rectangular mouth. The mask face of lightweight, light-coloured wood is dyed black and red respectively on either side if the middle axis. A special feature of this item: on its face it displays rows of old, inserted metal studs, diagonally at the upper edge and in the middle of the forehead, on the temples, under the eyes, on the cheeks and around the mouth (these metal studs are possibly remains of an early copper covering of the mask). Hairstyle of 14 ‘balls’, plaited from stripes of vegetable materials. A plaited 'beard' of plant fibres (c. 20 cm), knotted at the lower end, hangs from the pointed chin. On the back is a net of plaited fibres with which the mask was placed on the dancer’s head. Good, old patina. First half of the 20th century; H: 22 cm (wood section of the mask). (ME)

Provenance: German private collection.

Literature: '100 Peoples of Zaire and their Sculpture' by Marc L. Felix, p. 153, ill. 3, 7, 14, 15; 'Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture' by K.-F. Schädler, ill. p. 527.