"La Belle Madeleine" mask, Luba people, DRC

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"La Belle Madeleine" mask, Luba people, DRC

Name: 'La Belle Madeleine' mask, Luba people, DRC
Brand: Antikeo
SKU: GPKQ4MABMC
Price: 2800 EUR
Availability: InStock

By Gallery CURIOSITAS

2.800 €

Period 20th century

Style Tribal Art

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From: 69620, Ternand, France

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Item offered for sale by

CURIOSITAS

69620 Ternand

Display phone number +33 6 37 77 38 19

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Description

This description has been translated and may not be completely accurate. Click here to see the original

A mask depicting a fairly regular female face. The skin tone is white and enhanced with black pigments that highlight the eyes, eyebrows, nasal bridge, and scarifications. Black is also used for the headdress.
The regularity and centralized alignment of the scarifications could evoke a stylized cross, reinforcing a Christian connotation. The gaze is fixed and the bearing determined.
These masks are called "La Belle Madeleine" or "Magdalena" by the locals and are believed to represent a Catholic nun or "Mama Maria," the Virgin Mary. Like the female ancestor spirit masks, "La Belle Madeleine" is an idealized representation of women. It is possible that these new feminine icons replaced the older images of idealized women.
These masks are rare and intriguing. They reflect both the richness of Luba traditions and the impact of cultural exchanges with Christian Europe. They symbolize a fusion of local spirituality and foreign religious influences, demonstrating the ability of African artists to integrate and reinterpret external elements while preserving their cultural identity.
Wood, pigments, rope
Height: 31.5 cm
Luba people, Manono territory, DRC
Mid-20th century
Provenance: Former Belgian collection.
Former German collection.
Former Peter H. Loebarth (1941-2015).
Sold with its base.

Ref: GPKQ4MABMC

Additional Information

Condition	As is
Ethnic group	Luba - Baluba
Style	Tribal Art (African Masks of Tribal Art Style)
Period	20th century (African Masks 20th century)
Country of origin	Congo
Height (cm)	31.5