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Hôtel des Ventes de Troyes
286
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Mwaash amboy (Moshambwooy) royal mask
Kuba kingdom, Bushoong…
See original version (French)
286
-
Mwaash amboy (Moshambwooy) royal mask
Kuba kingdom, Bushoong…
See original version (French)
Estimate €400 - €500
Voluntary lot
Description
Mwaash amboy (Moshambwooy) royal mask
Kuba kingdom, Bushoong people (Bushongo)
DRC (formerly Belgian Congo), Western Kasai region
Height: 43 cm
Provenance :
Former Jef Vander Straete collection (1904-1985), Lasne, Belgium.
Acquired in 1968 by the Colfs family, Belgium.
Fabric, leather, glass beads, cauri shells, wooden nose piece
Anthropomorphic mask
Kuba ceremonial mask of the Mwaash amboy type, an emblematic figure embodying the
the founding sovereign and royal authority of the Kuba kingdom. The surface of the mask is
richly decorated with polychrome glass beads and cauri shells, arranged in complex geometric
geometric patterns, underlining the prestige and sacred nature of the object.
The face, structured around a wooden nose and covered in pearls, has a solemn, hieratic expression.
solemn, hieratic expression. The rimmed eyes and textile elements bear witness to an ancient ritual use
ritual use, with an overall patina and traces of wear consistent with prolonged use during
use during court ceremonies and dynastic rituals.
In Bushoong culture, Mwaash amboy masks were worn during royal dances,
embodying power, political legitimacy and dynastic continuity. The quality of the materials
the quality of its materials, the density of its decoration and its probable age, this mask is a remarkable
remarkable testimony to Kuba court art from the very early XXᵉ century.
See original version (French)
Auto-translation. Refer to original language for legal validity.
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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