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Premium Pierre Bergé & Associés

46 - Palm mask with ithyphallic figure at the top Wood, natural p…
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Estimate €1,000 - €1,500
Sale commission
Description
Palm mask with ithyphallic figure at the top Wood, natural pigments, fabric, raffia (later), marks of use. Yaka, Democratic Republic of Congo, probably first half of the 20th century. Height 72 cm Yaka helm masks are part of a complex initiation system linked to circumcision societies and rites of passage. They embody social and symbolic forces, combining human, animal and sometimes sexual figures in a deliberately expressive and composite construction. The presence of an ithyphallic figure at the top refers to notions of fecundity, vitality and transmission, essential in the rites of renewal of the group. Among the Yaka, these elements are never decorative, but form part of a codified interpretation of power, the body and the continuity of lineages. The helmet-like structure, covering the dancer entirely, reinforces the idea of the temporary incarnation of an active entity during ritual performances. - Expert: Serge REYNES
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About the sale Antonio Segui Collection: last memories
Auction location
Auction time 06/18/2026 at 2:00 PM
Pictures credits: Contact the Auction House
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