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Colorful Kete Mask 15″ – DRC – African Art

$150.00

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SKU: 1017305 Categories: , ,
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This mask was carved in the style of the Kete people of DRC. The mask was painted with colorful geometric patterns throughout. It measures 15 inches tall and weighs 2 pounds. There is some minor cracking, scuffing and general wear and tear. Please inspect photos. Stand not included.

Type of Object

Face Mask

Country of Origin

DR Congo

Ethnicity

Kuba Kete

Material

Wood, Pigment

Approximate Age

Unknown

Height (Inches)

15"

Width (Inches)

8”

Depth (Inches)

6”

Weight (Pounds)

2 lbs

Tribe Information

About the Kete People

“During the 16th century, the Kuba people migrated from the north and settled between the Sankuru and Kasai Rivers. Today, they number 250,000 and are subdivided into a number of tribes – the Bushoong, the Ngeende, the Kete, the Lele, the Binji, the Dengese, the Mbuun and the Wongo. Each clan pays tribute to the Nyim, the king of the Bushoong ruling clan, but their internal affairs are dealt with autonomously. The Bushoong king and his court lived in a closed palace, known as the Mushenge. The king was responsible for the wealth and fecundity of his people.
The 25,000 Kete people farm along the southern border of the Kuba kingdom and live in independent villages led by family chiefs. They carve figures associated with initiations and helmet masks similar to the Bushoong Bwoon mask with large, conical eyes.”