Face mask

19th–first half of 20th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 345

The Leele and Kuba living in the Kasai River region trace their origins to Woot, a shared founding ancestor. Woot is periodically brought to life in masquerades in the guise of mwaash aMbooy, a wise old man with a gray beard. While Kuba examples of mwaash aMbooy face masks abound, little documentation exists for their Leele corollaries. This mask’s likely connection with that founding figure is reinforced by its pronounced beard and cylindrical knobs emphasizing either temple, the locus of spiritual power and divination. During the 1980s Leele masks were performed at harvest ceremonies and the funerals of important individuals. When not in use, a designated member of the village’s founding family was charged with each mask’s care.

Artwork Details

Overview

Provenance

Exhibition History

References

Title: Face mask
Artist: Leele artist
Date: 19th–first half of 20th century
Geography: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kasai River region
Culture: Leele peoples
Medium: Wood, raffia palm fiber, fur, kaolin, pigment
Dimensions: H. 22 1/4 in. × W. 12 in. × D. 10 in. (56.5 × 30.5 × 25.4 cm)
Classification: Wood-Sculpture
Credit Line: The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Gustave Schindler, 1967
Object Number: 1978.412.540
Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing

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