Lele (or Bashilele), Democratic Republic of Congo: A helmet mask, painted red and white.
Lele (or Bashilele), Democratic Republic of Congo: A helmet mask, painted red and white.
A helmet or crest mask of the Lele, neighbours and relatives of the Kuba (or Bakuba) in southwestern Congo. Made of hard, light-coloured wood, dyed dark brown, and painted in stripes and dots with white kaolin and red redwood powder. The relatively flat wooden mask is a striking old piece, with very good shiny patina on the front and back, and with some old cracks on the right eye, on the mouth and on the back rim. The ‘helmet’ that is bound to the mask consists of flat pieces of bark covered with brown raffia weave and decorated with numerous cowrie shells in a geometric pattern, with small, grey pieces of fur and colourful strings of glass pearls. On the top rests a short tassel with several iridescent bird feathers. This ‘helmet’ had probably been renewed once before. But it is not new! Yet, the wooden mask on the front is considerably old. First third of the 20th century; H: c. 38 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Austrian private collection.
Lit.: 'Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture' by K.-F. Schädler, ill. p. 369.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
05.11.2014 - 13:00
- Estimate:
-
EUR 2,600.- to EUR 2,800.-
Lele (or Bashilele), Democratic Republic of Congo: A helmet mask, painted red and white.
A helmet or crest mask of the Lele, neighbours and relatives of the Kuba (or Bakuba) in southwestern Congo. Made of hard, light-coloured wood, dyed dark brown, and painted in stripes and dots with white kaolin and red redwood powder. The relatively flat wooden mask is a striking old piece, with very good shiny patina on the front and back, and with some old cracks on the right eye, on the mouth and on the back rim. The ‘helmet’ that is bound to the mask consists of flat pieces of bark covered with brown raffia weave and decorated with numerous cowrie shells in a geometric pattern, with small, grey pieces of fur and colourful strings of glass pearls. On the top rests a short tassel with several iridescent bird feathers. This ‘helmet’ had probably been renewed once before. But it is not new! Yet, the wooden mask on the front is considerably old. First third of the 20th century; H: c. 38 cm. (ME)
Provenance: Austrian private collection.
Lit.: 'Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture' by K.-F. Schädler, ill. p. 369.
Specialist: Erwin Melchardt
Erwin Melchardt
+43-1-515 60-465
erwin.melchardt@dorotheum.at
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| Auction: | Tribal Art |
| Auction type: | Saleroom auction |
| Date: | 05.11.2014 - 13:00 |
| Location: | Vienna | Palais Dorotheum |
| Exhibition: | 31.10. - 05.11.2014 |