Mask covered in copper, Lwalu; D.R.C. Congo
Wood, copper; H. 13 1/2"
The Lwalu (often erroneously called
Lwalwa) produce some of the most dramatically conceived
masks in central Africa, the forms being complex
syntheses of concavity and planar geometry. Utilized
by the Ngongo society, which is primarily
concerned with success in hunting and anti-witchcraft
activity, Lwalu masks are worn in acrobatic dances
by men and are secured by a string, passing through
the face into the interior just below the nose,
that is clenched between the teeth of the dancer
and holds the mask in place. This particular example
falls into another realm altogether, though, as
it has been covered in plates of copper. This identifies
the mask as having been associated with Lwalu chieftaincy,
as expressed in the Lwalu concept of the meaning
of copper in cultural context. By all indications,
this mask was at one point an unclad dance mask,
but at some time long ago it was refitted with a
metal sheathing, thereby changing its status and
meaning. As well as the mask's obvious signs of
age, the old native copper and the fine workmanship
attest to a traditional origin. The harmonious interplay
of forms is readily apparent in this example: the
rounded concave features magnificently integrate
with the block-like mass of the nasal ridge, and
the elongated chin completes the overall composition
in perfect balance.
