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Start Over Object class Masks (costume) Accession number Acc.4288
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 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.”

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