Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Salampasu people, ca. 1940s to 1950s CE. This is an aggressive warrior mask made of carved wood, with a copper-covered face. The coiffure is composed of rattan balls and a braided beard terminates in two suspended rattan balls. The open mouth is full of carved teeth. The Salampasu style is present here with the large, emphasized forehead. The approximately 60,000 Salampasu people live on the Kasai River, near the border between the DRC and Angola; they are governed by territorial chiefs and have a reputation as fearless warriors. Masks like this one are marks of heirarchy, accessible to men after they have passed through a circumcision ritual -- earning the right to wear a mask means that a man has accrued a certain amount of wealth (through payments of livestock, drink, and other material goods) and has performed specific deeds. The copper sheets are a prerogative of leadership, and in some cases, are worn by members of the ibuku warrior association who have killed in battle. Size: 15" H (38.1 cm)

Provenance: Ex-Art for Eternity / Howard Nowes, Ex- Sebastian Fernandez NYC collection, ex-collection of Peter Sloane, London.
Apr 2007.

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