Donor: Dan Stuhlmueller / Function: 5.3 Objects relating to the Secular and Quasi-religious Rites, Pageants, and Drama - Hearst Museum Portal Search Results

Start Over Donor Dan Stuhlmueller Function 5.3 Objects relating to the Secular and Quasi-religious Rites, Pageants, and Drama

Hearst Museum object titled Carving face, accession number 5-15187, described as Carving, anthropomorphic, wood. Handcarved from solid log. Stylized face in high relief. Bark left on in places. Entire surface covered with red pigment. Height 59 centimeters, diameter 13.6 centimeters. From Central Africa, Zaire, Salampasu Poto (Murdock 36:27).

Hearst Museum object titled Gong, accession number 5-15397, described as Slit gong, wood, hand carved from solid tree limb, round, well-patinated; finial/stylized carved human head at top; lower two thirds hollowed out. Length 36.9 cm. Diameter (at base) 8.5 cm. Used by a diviner to announce his entry into a village.

Hearst Museum object titled Mask, accession number 5-15394, described as Helmet mask; wood; one piece, carved from solid block; unpainted; stylized pointed forehead; raised conical shaped eyes surrounded by holes; raised conical shaped mouth; stylized ears; stylized symbolic helmet; geometric incised designs throughout; holes drilled around edges for attachment of hood; length 41 cm, width 18.5 cm (at base)

Hearst Museum object titled Mask, accession number 5-15392, described as Helmet mask, wood, one-piece, carved from solid black; raised nasal septal ridge, painted black on top; protruding mouth and lips panted red; slit eyes painted black with red and black for eyebrows; incised grooves on face, cheeks and scalp; holes drilled along edges for attachment of hood. Length 46.5 cm. Width 27.0 cm. “The Songye... produced remarkable masks and figurines characterized particularly by an angular cubist style.” “The large wooden masks used in the ‘Kifebwe’ association have strongly protruding mouth, nose, and eyes and are painted red, white, black or blue, with curvilinear grooves and stripes in alternating colors.”

Hearst Museum object titled Painted wooden mask, accession number 5-15396, described as Handle mask, wood, one piece, hand carved from solid block; slit eyes with incised eyebrows, with upward turning elongated nose; painted white face; raised ears and mouth with teeth, painted blue; extended chin serving as handle for mask; holes along edges for attachment of fibers. Length 25.1 cm. Width 16.2 cm. “Handle mask worn by initiates in front of the face as part of raphia costume. Traditional variations in the form and decoration... indicated to which of the three grades within the initiation group the weared belonged.”

Hearst Museum object titled Wood carved head, accession number 5-15393, described as Helmet mask, wood, one piece, carved from solid block. Stylized headdress projecting from forehead (broken), raised nasal septal ridge and protruding mouth and lips painted black. Slit eyes surrounded by ridge with red beads embedded (many missing). Cross hatched incising on cheeks. Curvilinear incising on scalp. Braided and unbraided fibers attached to edges of mask. Feather bundle attached to fiber "pigtail." Length of mask is 34.5 centimeters, width is 17.5 centimeters. From Central Africa, Zaire, Southwestern Congo, Songye. Materials: carved wood, pigments, glass beads, fibers, feathers.

Hearst Museum object titled Wooden carved mask, accession number 5-15395, described as Mask, wood, one piece, hand carved from solid block; triangular face with raised eyebrows and scarification (?) raised on forehead and cheeks; upturned nose and protruding lips with carved teeth; holes drilled around all edges for attachment of raffia hair. Length 23.4 cm. Width 18.4 cm. “Wooden masks (mbuya) of various types are worn in dances when the young men return to the village after circumcision in the initiation schools.”