This is the rating and price for Early 20Th C. African Lega Wood Mask - Human Face, 2014

Description : **Originally Listed At $1500** Central Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lega peoples, ca. early to mid 20th century CE. A delightful mask of an elegant human face. Narrow, rectangular openwork eyes and mouth surround a long, thin low relief nose. The face is inset into the wood, leaving the nose to project below a relief brow, in the classic heart-shaped form associated with many masks from this culture. The remains of a raffia beard are visible along the chin, and the face was likely once painted white with kaolin clay. Size: 6.6 W x 10.5 H (16.8 cm x 26.7 cm), 18.7 H (47.5 cm) on included custom stand. In Lega tradition, masks are a symbol of their owner's rank within the Bwami society, which is an initiative society whose membership is open to Lega men and women who undergo a system of instruction, payment, and initiation. Each time a mask like this one was used, it was rubbed again with white clay. Lega masks, whose distinctive style inspired Cubists, have sold very well at auction. See for example one at Christie's Paris, June 19, 2014, Lot 55, which sold for EUR 20000 (approximately 22000 USD) Provenance: private New York, New York, USA collection All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back. A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids. We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience. #151258
Price: 1 182.75 USD It's free to register now to view!
Estimate (low-high) : 3000 USD-4500 USD It's free to register now to view!

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