The BaLuba of the southern part of the Congo empire was founded in 1585. At its, peak over 1 million people paid tribute to the Luba king. At the end of the 19th century the empire collapsed when the Belgian colonials took control. A secret society the Bambudye, kept the memory of their great Luba empire alive and bonded the diverse populations together. Through this diversity, artistically speaking, a lot of stylistic variations were born. Traditionally masks were used during rituals. Today they are proudly displayed in private abodes and often worn during large celebratory gatherings. This mask features concise ridged grooves with beautiful pigmented  brown, tan and black wood. The lower edges of the mask is trimmed with beautiful native bird feathering!

This makes for a wonderful African accent piece.

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Dimensions: 9 long x 7 inches wide. This measurement includes the feathering.

The second mask:

This set features a mask from the Teke people:

The Teke people reside in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Gabon. The Teke of the northwest are known as the Tsaye. The basic social unit of the two groups is the family, led by the Mfumu or head of the family who has the right of life or death over each clan member. The village as a whole is led by the “father of the land” or Mfumu na tzee. The Tsaye believe in a supreme God, Nzambi and are socially governed by the secret Kidumu society. The Kidumu, more than a century old, is a political-religious society that intervenes in all major aspects of social life: circumcisions, weddings, judgements and funerals. At the end of a Kidumu ceremony, a dancer, accompanied by musicians, performs with a circular shaped mask which is bisected by a horizontal stripe. This wall plaque features shades of brown and is used as a symbol of ancestral pride.

Perfect African accent piece!

Dimensions: 9 long x 7 inches wide.

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