Tchokwé culture, Democratic Republic of Congo
First half of the 20th century
Copper alloy
H. 24 cm, length 15 cm
Thick copper alloy face mask made using the lost wax technique. It is oval in shape, tapering on the chin and featuring almond-shaped eyes in high relief, framed by four thin rings, temples decorated with rectangular checkerboard scarification marks, a forehead ridge in relief with hatching, a long, angular nose, embellished on the lower part with three horizontal incisions, a mouth with lips separated from each other and two openings on the cheekbones in the shape of an inverted triangle. The small ears are pierced three times.
The small ears are pierced three times.
Text and photos © FCP CORIDON