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Hôtel des Ventes de Troyes

180 - - Passport mask - Pende - D. R. Congo
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Estimate €100 - €150
Sale commission
Description
- Passport mask - Pende - D. R. Congo Provenance: Private collection, Belgium Dimensions: H. 10 cm. A small miniature mask attributed to the Pende, presenting the essential characteristics of the aesthetic of this Central African people in a small, intimate format. Carved from medium-density wood with a light brown patina, it features an elongated face, narrow half-closed eyes, a straight nose and a finely drawn mouth, giving it a calm, meditative expression. The arched eyebrows form a continuous line above the eyes, while small incised marks on the cheeks evoke the decorative scarifications frequently seen in Pende art. The border, pierced with multiple holes, shows how it was once attached, probably to a support, a costume, an ornament or a ritual object that has now disappeared. The deeply carved inner surface and the small size of the object suggest that it was a miniature mask, sometimes referred to as a "passport mask" in the literature on African art. This term generally refers to small portable representations inspired by large dance masks, which can be used as a badge of belonging, a protective object or a symbolic support associated with the identity of an individual or group. The Pende are renowned for their particularly rich masquerade tradition, in which each mask embodies a character, a moral quality or a social force. Even on this reduced scale, the artist has retained the elegant lines and expressive sobriety that characterise so many of their creations.
See original version (French)
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About the sale ARTS OF AFRICA & OCEANIA: Three exceptional family collections
Auction location
Auction time 06/22/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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