AN IMPORTANT LEGA BONE MASK, lukunga, of slightly curved oval form, pierced ovals at the centre of the lenticular eyes showing traces of kaolin, flared nose and small pierced mouth, zigzag of a double band of dots across the forehead and cluster above the nose, shallow notches down the ridge of the nose, golden to brown patina on the front, reddish brown on the reverse, pierced each side and with short length of plaited fibre, on panel of Kuba raffia pile cloth

Details

AN IMPORTANT LEGA BONE MASK, lukunga, of slightly curved oval form, pierced ovals at the centre of the lenticular eyes showing traces of kaolin, flared nose and small pierced mouth, zigzag of a double band of dots across the forehead and cluster above the nose, shallow notches down the ridge of the nose, golden to brown patina on the front, reddish brown on the reverse, pierced each side and with short length of plaited fibre, on panel of Kuba raffia pile cloth
the mask 17.5cm. high

Provenance

Baron Pierre Descamps

Lot Essay

Baron Pierre Descamps was an ardent collector of African art, and probably inherited several African carvings from his father, Baron Edouard Descamps (1847-1933), international lawyer, member of the Upper House of Parliament, Minister for Science and Arts, Minister of State of the Congo Free State.

There is a very remote possibility that the mask may have been a gift of H.Stanley of Livingstone fame, but as he is not recorded as having travelled among the Lega the possibility must remain a slender one

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