This is the rating and price for Songye Kifwebe Mask With Raffia Costume Male African Superb, Mid 20th century

Description : Stand not included!Additional Information: A wonderful  ,Songye mask known as Kifwebe and made for the Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe Secret society. Kifwebe means Mask in the Songye language. This is an important mask for what it represent for people who made it. The surface and the back show significant wear. Holes appear to have been made with an awl. There are fur in one nostril. ,This is a male character recognized by its high  ,central crest. . The size of the crest determines the magical power of the mask. During initiation, circumcision, or funeral ceremonies. ,According to Hersak (1985: 168), the striated masks, or kifwebe, are used as agents of a tradition and figures of authority to exercise social and political control through practices of evil magic and witchcraft by the members of the bwadi bwa kifwebe society. Among the societies public performances, three mask types exist: two grades of male and one female mask. Male masks are distinguished by a striated pattern of three colors while the female one is predominantly white with the features accented in black and some red... The Kifwebe tradition which exists also among the Luba, seems to have originated south of the eastern chiefdom in an area of Luba/Songe admixture. The Songye confirm this provenance by the interpretation that the kifwebe striations relate (apart from the zebra) to a pugnacious species of striped bushbuck antelope which inhabited the area.Recommended Reading:Cornet, J., A Survey of Zairian Art, North Carolina Museum of Art, 1978Dunja Hersak,Songye Masks and sculpture figures, 1985Neyt, F., Traditional Arts and History of Zaire, Louvain, 1981 , I have examined this piece and agree with the description. Niangi Batulukisi, PhD  ,
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Estimate (low-high) : 2000 USD-2500 USD It's free to register now to view!

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