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Kuba Helmet Mask, Democratic Republic of the Congo image 1
Kuba Helmet Mask, Democratic Republic of the Congo image 2
Kuba Helmet Mask, Democratic Republic of the Congo image 3
Kuba Helmet Mask, Democratic Republic of the Congo image 4
The Robert and Nancy Nooter Collection
Lot 30

Kuba Helmet Mask, Democratic Republic of the Congo

11 May 2021, 11:00 EDT
New York

Sold for US$10,008.75 inc. premium

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Kuba Helmet Mask, Democratic Republic of the Congo

bwoom
Wood, ritual patination
height 15in (38cm)

Provenance
Jean-Willy Mestach Collection, Brussels
Merton D. Simpson Gallery, New York
Robert and Nancy Nooter Collection, Washington, D.C., acquired in 1970

Published
Robbins, Warren (Introduction), African Art in Washington Collections, Museum of African Art, 1972, pg. 48

Exhibited
Washington, D.C., African Art in Washington Collections, Museum of African Art, 1972
Washington, D.C., Life Afterlife, Museum of African Art, 1982
Washington, D.C., National Museum of African Art – Smithsonian Institution, 1987 – 2004


Of classic, deeply hollowed form, the artist clearly intended to increase the power of the sculptural volumes in this work. The mask is pierced around the edges for attachments; a feint raised circle-eight design on the back of the head, the top with an approximately 3in (7cm) hole with old erosion around the edge; piercing around the eyes and chin, the right with encrustations covering most of the holes; pierced through at the ears and covered throughout with heavily encrusted ritual patination.

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