Tabwa Mask Headpiece, RARE African Mask Start Price USD 450.00 Current Price USD 450.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, July 16, 2008 End Time Wednesday, July 23, 2008 Location Denver, CO See more about 'Tabwa Mask Headpiece, RARE African Mask' Description Title: Tabwa RARE Mask, Old collection, African Mask Type of Object: mask, headpiece Ethnic Group: Tabwa Country of Origin: DR Congo Materials: Wood, pigment, shell, button, staples Approximate Age: 20th century Dimensions: eight is 11.5 inches Overall Condition: Good Damage, Repair: Indigenous repair of old age crack under several layers of pigment Additional Information: Tabwa wooden mask. This is a top-of-the-head piece.Tabwa masks are rare and little is known concerning their use and functions. The literature points out three types of masks among the Tabwa. The first category is represented by the anthropomorphic wooden helmet mask with rich headdress, scarifications and nostril decoration. This type represents the female ancestor (Musangwe), symbolizing fertility. The name Musangwe is related to sexual promiscuity. Our mask falls into this category. During the masquerade, Musangwe is always accompanied by its male (Kiyunde). This second type is a zoomorphic mask representing a buffalo. There is no precise information to confirm if these two masks perform the primordial or mythical couple. The third type of masks was discovered more recently. These masks are made of glass beads stitched onto raffia cloth. The functions pf these masks are not known for sure. But they all are related to either the Mbudye or the Butwa society. They are probably involved in ritual dances linked to fertility, the birth of twins and ancestor cult in the Butwa secret society.For similar piece see Frank Herrreman & Costantijn Petridis (ed.),1993 FACE OF THE SPIRITS MASKS FROM THE ZAIRE BASIN, fig. 80Description written by Niangi Batulukisi, Ph.D. **011174** All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2006 Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers! Please visit our About Us page. SquareTrade © AP6.0 PesaMember Place a Bid!