Jaques R. van Overstraeten, Brussels, Belgium, Zemanek-Münster, Würzburg, Germany
Material
Raffia and bast fibres
Size
H: 46 cm (without beard)
Description
This finely produced mask is mainly made of plaited bast fibres and was used by the "idangani" warrior society. They were used during initiation rites and other ritual festivals. The number of masks a society possessed indicated the courage of the group, its experience in warfare and the number of enemy heads it had taken.
The mask is mounted on a stand.
Lit.: Material Journeys - Collecting African Art and Oceanic Art, 1945-2000 - page 162
