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Early 20th Century Pende “Giwoyo” Sickness Mask, Kwilu Region, D.R. Congo
$2,067.27
£1,531.29
€1,720
CA$2,827.95
A$3,082.32
CHF 1,629.60
MX$37,105.31
NOK 20,683.64
SEK 18,962.67
DKK 13,105.45
About the Item
Early 20th Century Pende “Giwoyo” Sickness Mask, Kwilu Region, D.R. Congo (ca. 1920)
Exceptional Pende sickness mask (Giwoyo) from the Kwilu region of the Democratic Republic of Congo, dating from around 1920.
Carved from a single piece of lightweight wood and covered with natural white kaolin and black pigment, the mask features the classic dual-tone facial division symbolizing the tension between life and death, health and illness. The finely rendered teeth and half-closed eyes give it a powerful, introspective expression.
The upper section is topped with a woven fiber cap, and the edges are adorned with natural raffia and vegetal fibers—elements that would have concealed the wearer’s head entirely during ritual performances. These masks were traditionally used by the Pende during healing or purification ceremonies, invoking ancestral spirits to restore harmony and health within the community.
The piece shows an authentic, aged patina with traces of ritual use and fiber wear consistent with early 20th-century examples. A superb, expressive sculpture with strong presence and historical depth.
Materials: Wood, natural pigments, raffia, vegetal fiber
Origin: Pende people, Kwilu region, D.R. Congo
Date: ca. 1920
Dimensions: heigth without beard and headdress 20 cm
Condition: Good condition for its age, with minor losses and fiber wear consistent with age and ritual use.
Provenance: Private European collection
- Dimensions:Height: 8.67 in (22 cm)Width: 6.7 in (17 cm)Depth: 4.93 in (12.5 cm)
- Style:Tribal (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:early 20th century
- Condition:Wear consistent with age and use. normal age traces.
- Seller Location:Bilzen, BE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU10361247185252
About the Seller
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