KUBA MASK
ngady amwaash - image-1
KUBA MASK
ngady amwaash - image-2
KUBA MASK
ngady amwaash - image-1KUBA MASK
ngady amwaash - image-2

Lot 167 Dα

KUBA MASK ngady amwaash

Auction 1216 - overview Brussels
01.02.2023, 14:00 - African and Oceanic Art
Estimate: 20.000 € - 22.000 €

KUBA MASK
ngady amwaash
Democratic Republic of the Congo

30 cm. high

This mask is one of the three royal masks performed by the Kuba. Dating back to the First Dynasty, it was first commissioned by Queen Ngokadi whom wanted to enhance the role of Women. According to Joseph Cornet ("Art Royal Kuba", 1982, p.270), it was worn by men taking on the appearance of a women and performing a choreography imitating female dance steps.
Ngady amwaash also represents the mythic character Mweel who is the sister and wife of Woot, procreator of the Bushong people and incarnated by mwaash amboy. Both masks were danced together evoking the myth of creation and Kuba historical scenes during public celebrations, initiations and funerals.
The parallel polychromic lines running down from the eyes to the cheeks are said to represent tears.
A close example is in the collection of the MAS, Ethnographic Museum of Antwerp, inv. no. AE.0331, and was acquired from Henri Pareyn in 1920.

Provenance

Nadya Levy, Antwerp, 1970s