Pende Pumbu mask, Democratic Republic of the Congo
36" tall
wood, pigment
This mask is being sold on consignment from a private collection.
$450
INQUIRE
"Of the three masks belonging to the chiefly regalia, of the Eastern Pende people, Pumbu is deemed the most dangerous and is reserved for
only the most powerful chiefs. The Pumbu mask represents the part of the executive branch that must deal with war and execution. The Pumbu,
unlike the majority of other mask, is only danced on special occasions such as, when the chief is seriously ill, in times of illness or famine, when
other issues are causing disruption in the community or when the chief feels threatened. Through the dancing of the Pumbu the chief asserts his
authority.
The interlacing diamond patterns of the mask are symbols of chiefship and royalty. The large wide opened eyes of the mask, showing lots of
white conveys anger. The beared teeth of the mask symbolize the fierce power of the chief and the ears sticking out from the sides of the mask
mean that the chief hears everything that goes on and knows all. The overall aesthetics of the mask are meant to evoke fear, this idea is even
more evident in the performance of this mask." - From http://cti.itc.virginia.edu/~bcr/studentwork/jones/royalty.html
This is a wonderful example of this type of mask, very nicely carved with great attention to detail in the designs and painting. I believe that this
mask was made specifically for the collecting market.
|
|
|
