This is the rating and price for A Fine Songe Mask, 1978.0

Description : flaring flange extending pendant from the chin beneath an abstract flaring face with protruding pierced rectangular mouth, flat raised truncated triangular nose leading to a broad medial strip extending up over the forehead, and flanked by pierced crescent eyes beneath arching brows, and incised on the surface with deep grooves of parallel bands, and pierced around the rim for attachment, with the remnants of a knotted headdress at the back leading to a raised element terminating in a tuft of brown and white feathers, fine aged patina with kaolin on the face and red pigment on the mouth and eyes. Cf., Leuzinger, African Sculpture, 1978: no.178 and Wardwell, African Sculpture, 1986: no.58. The name kifwebe derives from the name of the society that uses them to represent spirits of the dead in initiation rights. They can be classified according to their style into two principal groups: the Bekalabwe... and the Beniki. According to Leuzinger (ibid.) Their masks and fetishes are monumental and austere, and are based on cubist forms. This mask was reserved for use by the Medicine-man in times of great danger, serious illness, plague, war, or the death of a king. He also wore it for the initiation of members into the secret society. It was believed to derive power through the sacrifice of a slave... Wardwell (ibid.) notes, This mask is understandably one of the African sculptures most sought by Museums and private collectors alike...These masks are commonly known as kifwebe, which simply means mask to the Songe, although this term refers quite specifically to only one type of mask they use...Nonetheless, these masks had great power, which was directed at exercising the social control of women and children. See illustration on frontispiece Property of a German Private Collector.
Price: 11 500.00 USD It's free to register now to view!
Estimate (low-high) : 25000 USD-35000 USD It's free to register now to view!

Details