
Description
Beautiful idimu LEGA Mask
Face whitened with a very mineral kaolin (glitter effect)
Dot scarifications on the forehead
This type of mask was used in the cult of the Bwami, a level society whose rites were reserved for the initiatesThis association organized the social structure and ensuredthe stability of the Lega community.
The Lega are a Bantu forest people of Central Africa,established mainly in the east of the Congo Drc, east of the Lwalaba River (the Congo River), up to the altitude in the Mitumba Mountains,in the provinces of South Kivu and Maniema.
Characteristics:
TYPE OF OBJECT: Mask.
ETHNICAL GROUP: Lega .
ORIGINE: Democratic Republic of Congo.
DRC (ex Belgian Congo, ex Zaïre).
MATERIAL: Wood
DIMENSIONS: About 9 Inches high (23 cm)
CONDITION: Medium
Defect on the right side (see last pictures)
Base is NOT included
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BIBLIOGRAPHIE / BIBLIOGRAPHY :
- LEGA. ETHIQUE ET BEAUTE AU COEUR DE L'AFRIQUE. DANIEL P. BIEBUYCK. 2002. KBC.
- JOYAUX LEGA DE LA COLLECTION BENOIT ROUSSEAU. VIVIANE BAEKE, MRAC ET BENOIT ROUSSEAU. 2013. BRUNEAF.
- A LA RECHERCHE DU SENS DU BWAMI, AU FIL D'UNE COLLECTION PAS COMME LES AUTRES. VIVIANE BAEKE. SANS DATE. MUSEE ROYAL DE L'AFRIQUE CENTRALE
- LA SCULPTURE DES LEGA. DANIEL P. BIEBUYCK. 1994. GALERIE HELENE ET PHILIPPE LELOUP- PARIS-NEW-YORK.
- THE ARTS OF ZAIRE, VOL II EASTERN ZAIRE. DANIEL P. BIEBUYCK. 1986 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS.
- L'ART DES LEGA D'AFRIQUE CENTRALE, ELIZABETH L. CAMERON. 2013. MUSEE DU QUAI BRANLY.
- LEGA CULTURE. ART, INITIATION AND MORAL PHILOSOPHY AMONG A CENTRAL AFRICAN PEOPLE. DANIEL P. BIEBUYCK. 1973. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA PRESS.
- LES LEGA ET LEUR ART. SUR LES TRACES D’UN REVEUR EGARE AU CONGOLAND. EMILE-ALEXANDRE GEORGES. 2005. MUSEE ROYAL DE L'AFRIQUE CENTRALE.
- L'ART LEGA - GRANDEUR ET HUMILITE. DANS LA COLLECTION VALLIER (2016, VALENTINE PLISNIER ET MICHEL BOULANGER)
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Reserve: $375.00
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Buyer's Premium
20%
Beautifu Lega idimu Bearded Mask Bwami Congo African Tribal Art mc 1857
Estimate $450-$550
Starting Price
$180
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Primitive Passions: Exclusive Tribal Art Sale
Feb 26, 2026 11:00 AM ESTNew York, NY, United States
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