This is the rating and price for 19Th C. African Ituri River Painted Wood Mask

Description : Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ituri River region, ca. late 19th to early 20th century CE. A beautiful hand-carved and elaborately painted wooden mask from the Ituri rainforest, likely by the Mbuti or Ndaka peoples, and created to represent ancestral spirits during initiation ceremonies. The visage presents openwork narrow eyes and mouth, a high relief nose, a carved and painted drop-shaped adornment below the mouth, and painted white dots covering most of the 'skin'. Captivating for its form and painted designs, such a mask was traditionally worn by an elder who lead young males through various initiation rites to establish their adulthood. Size: 9.75 H (24.8 cm), 12.75 H (32.4 cm) on included custom stand. Intended to be simultaneously powerful and attractive, masks like this were also traditionally lined with raffia, and the perforations lining the peripheries of this example were likely used for this. In addition, the painted designs of such masks have long been associated with the painted bark-cloth textiles of the Ituri pygmies. See an Ituri mask with raffia at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (object number L.151.2010.4). An Ituri River initiation mask sold for $4,800 at Bonhams New York (13 November 2007, lot 2608). Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection, ex Dr. Paul Kavmart collection, Frankfurt, Germany All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #152956
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Estimate (low-high) : 1800 USD-2500 USD It's free to register now to view!

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