The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of April 26, 2024

Mask (Emangungu)

Mask (Emangungu)

possibly early 1900s
Wood, kaolin, colorant, and iron
Overall: 46 cm (18 1/8 in.)
Leonard C. Hanna, Jr. Fund 2006.116
Location: 108A Sub-Saharan

Description

Among the Bembe, anthropo-zoomorphic plank masks are used in circumcision rites called butende. They are worn along with a costume of bark and banana leaves by the initiated boys who beg for food in the village while living in seclusion in the forest. The sculpture’s short projections above the forehead are identified as an owl’s tufts. The two pairs of eyes could refer to divination.
  • by 1957–?
    Franyo and Gustave Schindler, New York, NY
    before 1967–1990
    Jacques Boussard, Paris, France
    1990–?
    Lucien Van de Velde, Antwerp, Belgium
    private collection, Belgium
    2006
    (Sotheby's, New York, NY, sold to the Cleveland Museum of Art)
    2006–
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH
  • Cleveland Museum of Art. The CMA Companion: A Guide to the Cleveland Museum of Art. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2014. Mentioned and reproduced: P. 37
  • {{cite web|title=Mask (Emangungu)|url=false|author=|year=possibly early 1900s|access-date=26 April 2024|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2006.116