SOLD / SOLD! Zoomorphic owl mask BEMBE CONGO Owl mask MC0762 PROVENANCE

SOLD / SOLD! Zoomorphic owl mask BEMBE CONGO Owl mask MC0762 PROVENANCE

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For English, please have a look below

CONGO DRC

BEMBE Beautiful owl zoomorphic circumcision mask.
Called " Eluba va butende na cwecwe" or "Emangungu" these masks were worn during the initiation rites of young people.


“ The animal that dominates the heights of the forest, the master of death, is the owl ( cwecwe : generic term). His mask will protect, in particular, the circumcised batende from the poisonous gaze of sorcerers " (PP Gossiaux, p age 19 )

The Bembe are established in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, north of Lake Tanganyika. (Not to be confused with the Beembe who are sometimes also spelled Bembe and who are a people of the Kongo group)

They consider themselves as the descendants of the Lega to whom they are culturally close. Thus, the Bwamè of the Bembe has many points in common with the Bwami of the Lega.
At the same time, there are other secret associations like the Elunda and the Alunga, whose helm mask is well known to Congo art lovers.


GOOD PROVENANCE: Patrick Claes
Patric Claes is a Belgian African Art dealer, located in Brussels. He is a great specialist in the traditional arts of the Congo. Participant in the last Cultures Bruneaf in 2019 at Sablon, Brussels. He also organized an exhibition of Masques Mbangu Pende (disease masks) in 2017.
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Features.

ITEM TYPE: Mask
ETHNICITY: Bembe.
ORIGIN: Democratic Republic of Congo.
(Ex Belgian Congo, ex Zaire). Prov. Maniema
MATERIAL: Wood.
DIMENSIONS: Height 39.5 cm
CONDITION: Fair
(See photos).
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Bibliography - Bibliography
 
- The Bwame  of the Babembe Leopard  (Kivu-Congo), Pol-Pierre Gossiaux, ULG 2000-2006
- Masks in Congo, Viviane Baeke, Baeke, Arthur Bourgeois, Kellim Brown, David Binkley, Rik Ceyssens, Marc Leo Felix, Pol Pierre Gossiaux, Manuel Jordanl, Constantin Petridis, Zoë Stroher, Julien Volper, Pan Yanqin. Edition Marc Leo Félix, 2016 pages 274 & 275
- 100 peoples of Zaire and their sculpture. The handbook for collectors, scholars and students, Mar Leo Felix, Brussels: Zaire Basin Art History Research Foundation, 1987 Page 33
- " Masks of Africa", William Fagg, Fernand Nathan, 1980
- Persona. Masks from Africa. Hidden and Revealed Identities, Anne-Marie Bouttiaux Editions 5 Continents & RMCA (Tervuren Museum)
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CONGO DRC

BEMBE Large zoomorphic Owl mask


Called " Eluba ya butende na cwecwe " or "Emangungu" these masks were worn during the initiation rites of young people.
"The animal that dominates the heights of the forest, the master of death, is the owl (cwecwe: generic term). this mask will protect, in particular, circumcised batende against poisonous eyes of wizards" (PP Gossiaux, page 19)

The Bembe are based in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, north of Lake Tanganyika. (Do not confuse them with the Beembe who sometimes also spell Bembe and who are a people of the Kongo group)
They see themselves as the descendants of the Lega of which they are culturally close. The Bwamé of the Bembe has much in common with the Bwami of the Lega
At the same time, they have other secret associations such as Elunda and Alunga, whose mask helmets are well known by Congo art lovers.
 
GOOD PROVENANCE: Patric Claes
Patric Claes is a Belgian dealer of African Art in Brussels
He's a specialist for the Congo traditional Arts
Exhibition in Cultures Bruneaf Brussels in 2019

He also made an exhibition of MBANGU PENDE (sickness Pende masks) in 2017. He is also a the father of the wellknown Didier Claes


Features:
TYPE OF OBJECT: Mask.
ETHNIC GROUP: Bembe.
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: Democratic Republic Congo
(ex Zaire, ex Belgian Congo). Maniema Prov.
MATERIAL: Wood.
DIMENSIONS: About 15 1/2 inches high.
CONDITION: Medium
Please have a look on pictures.
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