Details
Description
A striking carved-wood Songye kifwebe male mask (kilume) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The form is unmistakable: a …
Read more
A striking carved-wood Songye kifwebe male mask (kilume) from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The form is unmistakable: a tall central crest, projecting “telescoping” eyes, a bold rectangular mouth, and the fine concentric striations that define the kifwebe tradition — surfaces that catch and ripple light from across a room. Traces of the original red, white, and black pigment remain, and the perimeter is pierced for the raffia costume once worn in performance.
Among the Songye, the male kifwebe was danced at investitures, funerals, and new-moon rites, its striations referencing the threshold between the human and spirit worlds. As sculpture, it reads as both totemic and quietly modern — equally at home as the anchor of a gallery wall, a console vignette, or a collected, layered interior.
Provenance: Acquired in 2006 from the African art collection of Yuri and Ilya Raskin (arttribal.com / zyama.com), a respected collection assembled over more than thirty years and documented online and in print. Original collection reference B758; the dealer’s reference sheet conveys to the buyer.
See less
- Dimensions
- 10ʺW × 8.5ʺD × 28ʺH
- Styles
- African
- Art Subjects
- Other
- Period
- Early 20th Century
- Country of Origin
- Congo
- Item Type
- Vintage, Antique or Pre-owned
- Materials
- Wood
- Condition
- Good Condition, Unknown, Some Imperfections
- Color
- Red
- Condition Notes
- Age-appropriate wear including pigment loss, surface abrasion, and a small chip to the brow — all consistent with the piece … moreAge-appropriate wear including pigment loss, surface abrasion, and a small chip to the brow — all consistent with the piece and visible in the photographs, which form part of the description. Sold as-is. less
Questions about the item?
Returns & Cancellations
Return Policy - All sales are final 48 hours after delivery, unless otherwise specified in the description of the product.
Cancellation Policy - Prior to shipping or local pickup, buyers may cancel an order for up to 48 hours, unless otherwise specified.
Related Collections
- Mathurin Moreau Sculpture
- Lime Sculpture
- Photorealism Sculpture
- Chaim Gross Sculpture
- David Palombo Sculpture
- Boris Lovet-Lorski Sculpture
- Gourd Sculpture
- Polycarbonate Sculpture
- Hagenauer Werkstätte Sculpture
- Fernando Botero Sculpture
- Constantin Brancusi Sculpture
- Albert Ernest Carrier-Belleuse Sculpture
- Peter Shire Sculpture
- Recycled/Repurposed Sculpture
- Straw Sculpture
- Far Pavilions Sculpture
- Maison Jansen Sculpture
- Oil-Rubbed Bronze Finish Sculpture
- Georgian Sculpture
- Parchment Sculpture
- Bakelite Sculpture
- Austin Productions Sculpture
- Mid-Century Modern Sculpture
- Brutalist Sculpture
- Alabaster Sculpture