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African Pende wood Mbangu sickness mask. These masks

Currency:USD Category:Antiques Start Price:200.00 USD Estimated At:1,000.00 - 2,000.00 USD
African Pende wood Mbangu sickness mask.  These masks
African Pende wood Mbangu sickness mask. These masks are used to entertain a community during non-ritual festivities. Once used during mukanda initiation ceremonies to mark the end of male circumcision rituals, mbuya masquerades are now used to highlight a number of characters and roles in Pende society. The mbangu mask depicts someone that is bewitched, diseased or handicapped due to their moral corruption (some sources point to bewitchment caused by a jealous rival inflicting disease). It is believed that scars are borne by the inflicted falling into a fire after an epileptic fit. Provenance: Private collection collected between 1910 and 1930. SIZE: see attached ruler photo. Photos are part of the description representing the condition report and can be used for authentication prior to the sale date. Pangaea Auctions urges Bidder's to view all attached photos in detail. #(African, 19th-20th Century, Fine Art- Sculpture, Mask, Wood, Antique, Vintage, ).