A Pende Mask, "pota" Lot n° 37

Mask, "pota Pende, DR Congo ohne Sockel / without base wood. H 18,5 cm. Provenance: - According to the owners 1950s acquired in situ. - Swiss private collection, Zurich The masks from the rich repertoire of the Pende tradition were traditionally mediators between the forces of this world and the next, e.g. during the boy initiation as manifestation of the ancestor spirits. Today, they tend to appear at general celebrations to entertain those present with small scenes and thus promote social cohesion in society. Further reading: Sousberghe, Leon (1958). L'art Pende. Gembloux: Éditions J. Duculot. CHF 100 / 200