Helmet mask

Museum number:
5-6238
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21050006238
Accession number:
Acc.2280
Description:
mask; cloth and wood helmet; flat top w/ cowrie shells; oval face; bulbous slit eyes; diagonal stripes on cheeks; h. 36 cm.
Donor:
Harry A. Franklin Gallery (Los Angeles) and University Appropriation
Collection place:
Katanga province, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Verbatim coll. place:
Africa; Congo Republic (Leopoldville); Katanga; Kasai Region; Ba-Kuba (Murdock: 38:21)
Culture or time period:
Ba Kuba
Collector:
Harry A. Franklin Gallery [Los Angeles]
Collection date:
unknown
Materials:
Cotton (textile), Cowrie shell, Paint (coating), and Wood (plant material)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Masks (costume)
Function:
5.3 Objects relating to the Secular and Quasi-religious Rites, Pageants, and Drama
Accession date:
1966
Context of use:
Used during initiations into the "Babende" society, which served as the King's secret police. Represents Ngaady a Mwaash, the incestuous wife of Mwash a Mbooy and appears with him and his brother, Mboom, who desires her, during intiation dances. These two are sons of Woot, the primal ancestor, and the dance mimes their competition for her.
Department:
Africa (except Ancient Egypt)
Dimensions:
height 36 centimeters
Comment:
Photos on back of card. 5-6238
Loans:
S1973-1974 #94: Department of Anthropology (UC Berkeley)/Burton Benedict (May 8, 1974–May 10, 1974), S1975-1976 #7: University Art Museum (UC Berkeley) (August 21, 1975–November 20, 1975), S1989-1990 #13: California State University, East Bay (January 10, 1990–February 13, 1990), and S1990-1991 #23: Blackhawk Museums (March 20, 1991–August 16, 1994)
Images:
Hearst Museum object 1 of 16 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 2 of 16 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 3 of 16 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 4 of 16 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 5 of 16 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 6 of 16 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 7 of 16 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 8 of 16 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 9 of 16 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 10 of 16 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 11 of 16 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 12 of 16 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 13 of 16 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 14 of 16 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 15 of 16 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 16 of 16 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.
Legacy documentation:
Documentation associated with 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.Documentation associated with 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.

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