Kuba
Kasai region, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Central Africa
Helmet Mask (Mukenga)
INV-9953
Kuba
Kasai region, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Central AfricaPossibly late 19th to mid -20th century
Helmet Mask (Mukenga)
Kuba Kasai region, Democratic Republic of the Congo Central Africa →kuba (democratic republic of congo styleArts of AfricaCentral Africaafrican Artmasksarts of Africa
Date
Possibly late 19th to mid -20th century
Medium
Wood, glass beads, cowrie shells, feathers, raffia, fur, fabric, thread, monkey hair, and bells
Dimensions
57.5 × 24.1 × 20.3 cm (22 5/8 × 9 1/2 × 8 in.); deck mount/post: 94.7 × 45.8 × 73.7 cm (37 1/4 × 18 × 29 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Laura T. Magnuson Fund
The mukenga mask is worn along with a richly layered costume of raffia and beaded ornaments at funerals of titleholders in the northern part of the Kuba Kingdom. Its form and materials comprise elements associated with status and leadership, including cowrie shells, leopard fur, monkey hair, glass beads, and red tail feathers of the African gray parrot. A prominent trunk and two tusks refer to the elephant, the supreme symbol of wealth and leadership among the Kuba.
Also notable
Works in the same vein
