Kongo mask from DRC

Superb figurative mask in wood, pigment and kaolin, typical of the Kongo ethnic group of the Democratic Republic of Congo

Height: 22 cm, width: 17 cm

Kongo art

Famous in the West for their statues, mainly nkondi (nail fetishes), the Kongo also produced some masks whose general characteristic - rare in African art - lies in their naturalism and their realistic features.

Worn during initiation ceremonies and funerals of the most important personalities, they were also invested with a judicial role. Read more here

The Kongo mask

The dehydrated wood has become very light over time and the general expression, his gaze and his open mouth make him very alive.

The Kongo people

The Kongo ethnic group and the tribes it brought together - the Vili, the Yombé, the Beembé, the Bwendé and the Woyo - constitute a very important ethnic group in Central Africa; they produced remarkable cultural, religious and artistic objects. Read more here