Kuba Helmet Mask

Kuba Helmet Mask

Kuba people

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 much symbolism attached to the rendering of the elephant's trunk at the mask's upper surface. The elephant represents enormous size, strength and financial resource. The latter refers to the royal wealth that resulted from trading in ivory.

Democratic Republic of the Congo