Ngbaka Congolese Tribal Mask for Initiation Rituals - Early 20th Century
With a beautiful dark patina, this early 20th-century wooden mask shows a naturalistic human face, flattened, with the forehead, open mouth, and stylised teeth in light relief. The ridged, elongated nose and the diagonal ridges on the forehead are characteristic of these ‘Dagara’ masks, corresponding to the facial scarification patterns used by members of the tribe.
Traditionally, these wooden masks were used in a series of initiation rituals by the Ngbaka people of present-day Democratic Republic of Congo. Known as ‘Gaza’, meaning ‘that which gives strength’, these ceremonies followed a period of seclusion for the young men involved, assisted by former initiates, or ‘Bugaza’, as they prepared for adult life.
Dimensions:
Height: 12.6 in (32 cm)
Width: 8.67 in (22 cm)
Depth: 3.94 in (10 cm)
Location:
The Gallery 200 Lex New York
With a beautiful dark patina, this early 20th-century wooden mask shows a naturalistic human face, flattened, with the forehead, open mouth, and stylised teeth in light relief. The ridged, elongated nose and the diagonal ridges on the forehead are characteristic of these ‘Dagara’ masks, corresponding to the facial scarification patterns used by members of the tribe.
Traditionally, these wooden masks were used in a series of initiation rituals by the Ngbaka people of present-day Democratic Republic of Congo. Known as ‘Gaza’, meaning ‘that which gives strength’, these ceremonies followed a period of seclusion for the young men involved, assisted by former initiates, or ‘Bugaza’, as they prepared for adult life.
Dimensions:
Height: 12.6 in (32 cm)
Width: 8.67 in (22 cm)
Depth: 3.94 in (10 cm)
Location:
The Gallery 200 Lex New York
With a beautiful dark patina, this early 20th-century wooden mask shows a naturalistic human face, flattened, with the forehead, open mouth, and stylised teeth in light relief. The ridged, elongated nose and the diagonal ridges on the forehead are characteristic of these ‘Dagara’ masks, corresponding to the facial scarification patterns used by members of the tribe.
Traditionally, these wooden masks were used in a series of initiation rituals by the Ngbaka people of present-day Democratic Republic of Congo. Known as ‘Gaza’, meaning ‘that which gives strength’, these ceremonies followed a period of seclusion for the young men involved, assisted by former initiates, or ‘Bugaza’, as they prepared for adult life.
Dimensions:
Height: 12.6 in (32 cm)
Width: 8.67 in (22 cm)
Depth: 3.94 in (10 cm)
Location:
The Gallery 200 Lex New York