Browse Items (10 total)

This unusual mask of a man’s face is made of carved wood with dark brown vegetable pigment and white koalin. His hair is done as a three-part coiffure. The mask is worn by a person acting as the tribe’s police or to frighten an enemy.

Luba figures tend to have a polished surface with a deep patina. Sculptors attach considerable significance to detail creating naturalistic proportions along with intricate hair patterns.

The Kuba Kingdom was founded in the 16th century. Geometric design, cowrie shells, and vegetable fiber are characteristics of this example of a mask worn by the men of royal descent for coronation rituals or during a chief's installation. There is…

Copper ingots cast in the shape of an X were a form of currency. These originated in the copper-rich region of the Congo as well as in Northern and Southern Rhodesia. Molten copper obtained by smelling malachite ore was cast to create this X shape.

This mask is used by the Bwami Society and would be stored in a basket with turtle and snail shells, animal hides, parrot feathers, wild mushrooms, seeds and leaves to represent the natural world. The elders use these items to teach the young about…

This an example of a Mbuya mask, a type of mask created in multiple styles in the western and central Pende regions. The mask is worn by a dancer wearing a costume made of raffia or imported fabric. The dancer carries objects such as palm fronds or…

One of a kind, hand-forged iron blade with encrusted brown and silver patina, with a wood handle. “Weapons” such as this one were used as currency for barter and other transactions.

One of kind, hand-forged iron sword with a darkened patina and detailed etching on blade. The wood handle is wrapped with indigenous copper and animal fur. "Weapons" such as this one were used as currency for barter and other transactions.

This oval mask has large round eyes and a pair of small white horns on top. There is old raffia attached around the outer rim and signs of prolonged extensive use. The mask is made of carved wood with a dark brown patina and white kaolin.

This mask is made of carved wood with a dark brown vegetable pigment and red and yellow ochre earth pigments, and white kaolin. There is a wood handle at the chin for holding the mask, and a basketry headdress on top, covered with fabric. Raffia is…