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Antique wooden African Mbuya Cerimonial Mask

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Folk Art1126 of 25071/2 Modern Metal Sculpture"Twist"Can you Dance,April 6, 1987,Ross TannerPa. Dutch Chest
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    Posted 9 years ago

    Foofighter
    (13 items)

    Okay, so this a fairly large carved wooden head. At first glance it looks African however, the top knot and hairline look distinctively Asian. Needless to say, I am a bit confused as to origins.
    I do know that this was given to my stepfather by a collector of antiquities or someone like that.
    So the mystery is solved - thanks to "CanyonRoad".

    This if from the Democratic Republic of Congo (Formerly known as Zaire).
    Used by the Western Pende people as a Cerimonial initiation mask - called a Mbuya Mask.

    Mystery Solved
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    Comments

    1. surfdub66 surfdub66, 9 years ago
      This is AWSOME !! I love it :-))
    2. grendel67, 9 years ago
      I would say African do to the facial features The hair could still be a African style. If the facial design was Asian I would not have a problem calling it Asian. It could be Borneo or new Gianna but I would still lean to being African in origin.
    3. Foofighter Foofighter, 9 years ago
      I was thinking African too but, that top knot keeps throwing me off.
    4. CanyonRoad, 9 years ago
      It's African, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly known as Zaire. Used by the Western Pende people in initiation ceremonies, it's called a Mbuya mask.
    5. kerry10456 kerry10456, 9 years ago
      Been watching this post to see if anybody would come up with a plausible answer....."Kudos" CanyonRoad.
    6. Foofighter Foofighter, 9 years ago
      Excellent CanyonRoad, thank you!

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