Sale!

Beautiful Songye Bird Mask 12″ – DRC – African Art

$135.00

Sold

Discover African Art Handmad Badge

This mask was carved in the style of the Songye people of DRC. The mask features a bird with large eyes and a downward pointed beak. It measures 12 inches tall and weighs 1 pound. There is some minor cracking, scuffing and wear and tear – please inspect photos. Stand not included but one can be added for an additional charge.

Type of Object

Face Mask

Country of Origin

DR Congo

Ethnicity

Songye

Animal

Material

Wood, Pigment

Approximate Age

Unknown

Height (Inches)

12"

Width (Inches)

5.5”

Depth (Inches)

4.5"

Weight (Pounds)

1 lb

Overall Condition

Some cracking, scuffing and general wear and tear throughout.

Reviews

There are no reviews yet.

Be the first to review “Beautiful Songye Bird Mask 12″ – DRC – African Art”

Tribe Information

About the Songye People

“During the 16th century, the Songye migrated from the Shaba area, which is now the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire), and settled on the left bank of the Lualaba River, on a savannah and forest-covered plateau. Divided into numerous sub-groups, the 150,000 Songye people are governed by a central chief, the Yakitenge, whose role demands that he obey special restrictive laws such as not showing grief, not drinking in public and not shaking hands with men. In addition, local rulers, the Sultani Ya Muti, distribute plots of land to their villagers and an influential secret society, Bwadi Bwa Kifwebe, counterbalances their power. Unlike their neighbors, the Luba, the Songye tribe is a patriarchal society in which agriculture is central to the economy.”

Source:
Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print.