Culture or time period: Bantu (Zone C) / Loans: S1989-1990 #13: California State University, East Bay (January 10, 1990–February 13, 1990) - Hearst Museum Portal Search Results

Start Over Culture or time period Bantu (Zone C) Loans S1989-1990 #13: California State University, East Bay (January 10, 1990–February 13, 1990)

Hearst Museum object titled Cup, accession number 5-8786, described as Cup; wood; brown; cylindrical body with tapered pedestal and round base; all-over interlocking triangular short design.

Hearst Museum object titled Divination animal, accession number 5-12977, described as Figure, elongated animal (Lele dog) carved on stomach and front legs; fiber thong around neck; tall and 2 legs broken.

Hearst Museum object titled Helmet mask, accession number 5-6238, described as mask; cloth and wood helmet; flat top w/ cowrie shells; oval face; bulbous slit eyes; diagonal stripes on cheeks; h. 36 cm.

Hearst Museum object titled Mask, accession number 5-13706, described as Helmet mask, anthropomorphic; stained wood with sheet copper overlay at mouth and above eyes; exposed wood divided into finely incised diamonds in low relief; trimmed with cowries, black, white and lt. blue beads; pr. clear green glass beads front of each other ear; burlap skullcap; brown seed pods and bits or red wool at base; 2 triangular flaps of raffia pile cloth (1 at each ear).

Hearst Museum object titled Mask, accession number 5-4513, described as Mask; red cloth and burlap covered with resin; helmet with winged headpiece; red cloth and white paper decoration. Height 42.5 cm. Good condition. “A dancer. He is good. Dances at all fetes of ‘Mukanda’ and also other fetes of Sunday. ‘Kukalinga’ in Chokwe means to walk with a limping “Step-in-Fetchit” walk, knees bent, body sagging forward, and the dancer dances this way.”

Hearst Museum object titled Mask, accession number 5-14933, described as Helmet mask, anthropomorphic; cylindrical head with tubular, hexagonal nose, hemispherical beard that projects forward in two platforms edged in alternating black/white brows; black-stained hair with same motif as beard; projecting orange/white ears; open split at right from top to eye, several splits above and below left eye; three incised diamonds on front, double zigzag bands at top; sides resembling teeth is repeat of single incised triangles seen elsewhere; knob at top has remnants of brown stain; lacing holes at back have two-ply vegetal cordage within; two-ply vegetal cordage strand in hole just above center of top platform (=beard); old insect damage in two areas at back. Width underneath 28.6 cm. Worn in dances performed to cure illness, particularly that of the chief; associated with supreme authority and used during the kind’s investiture. Like the king himself it is a symbol of fertility. The giphogo mask, which was unique to the Ba-Pende of Kasai, also functioned with two other masks in rituals designed to insured fertility and in general was associated with the health and fertility of the community. It was part of the chief’s treasure and was always stored in his house; reproductions of it and other masks were carved on the tops of stakes set around the chief’s house and also appeared as rood ornaments.

Hearst Museum object titled Wood mask with raffia, accession number 5-13885, described as Mask; face mask; anthropomorphic; red, white, and black pigments, raffia fringe; multiple round perforations on both sides of nose; lower half of face is triangular; nose, mouth and browridges in high relief; length not including fringe 17 cm