Helmet mask, Pende (Kasai); D.R.C. Congo
Wood, pigments; H. 15"
This helmet mask, featuring a horizontal
beard-like disk, is linked with both the aggressive
and nurturing sides of chiefly and ancestral authority.
The mask performs during renewal rites that accompany
millet sowing and, when not in use, forms part of
the chief's treasure and is kept in his residence
with other sacred objects. Various features of this
mask are said to refer to proverbs that distinguish
chiefly virtues; namely, that he must be vigilant,
pay little heed to slights or insults, listen thoughtfully–not
responding to everything he hears–and think
before he speaks. This fine old example successfully
integrates the almost contradictory elements of
the form: the arcing brows, the forward thrusting
nose, and the jutting beard resolve themselves into
a cohesive artistic expression.
