Carved wooden helmet mask with dramatic bulging forehead accented with shells, beads and metal work. A bold and powerful example of the style. During a dance performance, the bwoom mask introduces an element of tension into the courtship dance between Woot, the primeval ancestor and his sister-wife. As a group, princely dignitaries wear these masks in processions and ceremonies performed at initiations and burial rites. Used in this way, Kuba myths of creation and the founding of the dynasty are related to the populace, providing both spectacle and the transmission of cultural values. The mask measures 21 x 10 inches. A metal display stand can be included for an additional $34.00

fair, well worn