Very beautiful African Kuba Bwoom Royal mask – Congo

Old African Bwoom Royal mask from the Kuba, Congo.Size: 35 cm x 30 cm 25 cm.This Royal Kuba mask is dated mid 20th century and comes with a certificate of authenticity.Democratic Republic of the Congo - Kuba. Bwoom helmet mask. Natural patina hardwood, metal, fabric, beads, shells, seeds, and animal fur. Signs of use.This richly decorated Bwoom mask is part of the triptych of royal Kuba masks. Introduced in the seventeenth century by King Miko mi-Mbul, according to tradition it represents the hydrocephalic brother of the king (the forehead is always very prominent) to whom everything was allowed and who fulfilled a role very similar to what for us Europeans was the court jester. The untamed and rebellious character of the Mbooms was evident both in the "overdressing" of the mask and in the proud and agressive manner of dancing.Fully "clothed" in all its colorful, gaudy and lived-in kit this Mboom mask of the Kuba is one of the icons of African primitive art production.There are some small missing part (see the picture).It's made of wood covered with copper foil with finials of glass beads, seeds, shells, goatskin and fabric. Bwoom masks represent one of three types of "royal masks"... lees verder bij Catawiki