Wonderful Fang Ngongtang helmet mask with 4 faces from Gabon.

The (Fang groups) Betsi and Ntumu call this type of helmet mask ngontang, a term that is a contraction of nlo ngon ntanga, which means ‘face of the daughter of the white man.’ When the Betsi and Ntumu peoples first encountered the Europeans, they believed the Europeans were spirits returned from the world of the dead. Introduced in the 1920s, these mask were a ritual object that fought against malevolent forces such as witchcraft. It is thought the ngontang replaced the ngil mask, which policed the Fang communities and was banned by the French colonial government.”

The mask is in good condition with traces of wear and tear.

Object:

Ngongtang Mask

Ethnic group:

Fang

Country:

Gabon

Material:

Wood

Period:

Second half 20th century

Sold with stand:

No

Dimensions:

40x22x22 cm

Weight:

1600 gram

Condition:

Good condition, used with some signs of wear

Reserve: $160.00

Shipping:

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Location: This item ships from The Netherlands

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