Mask (Kasangu) / Artist Unknown, African, Sala Mpasu Peoples Democratic Republic of the Congo
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About this Item
Record Details
- Accession Number
- 1971/2.44
- Title
- Mask (Kasangu)
- Artist Nationality
- Congolese
- Medium and Support
- wood, raffia, kaolin and fiber
- Object Creation Date
- 1920-1960
- Object Creation Place
- Africa (continent)
- Congo Republic (nation)
- Creation Place 1
- Africa (continent)
- Creation Place 2
- Congo Republic (nation)
- Dimensions
- 58.3 cm x 24 cm x 21 cm (22 15/16 in. x 9 7/16 in. x 8 1/4 in.)
- Century
- 20th century
- Primary Object Classification
- Costume and Costume Accessory
- Primary Object Type
- mask
- Physical Description
- Face mask made of wood, covered in white kaolin; face has round, bulging forehead, deep set narrow eyes, small round ears, fiber beard, open rectangular mouth and pointed teeth; basketry weave that held mask on the dancer’s head is visible at back and sides; raffia attachment on top of head frayed and missing.
- Subject Matter
- In pre-colonial Sala Mpasu society authority was vested in members of the Matambu warriors’ society who could secure the rights to wear an array of important masks. The kasangu mask was made of wood and represented a warrior. Covered in kaolin, a fine white clay, it is distinguished by its open rectangular mouth and pointed teeth—a Sala Mpasu mark of beauty.
- Secondary Keywords
- associated concepts
- costume
- costume by function
- descriptors
- events
- masks (costume)
- object genres
- object genres by material
- objects we use
- people and culture
- sculpture
- sculpture by material
- social science concepts
- social status
- sociological concepts
- visual works
- visual works by medium or technique
- Rights
- If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit https://umma.umich.edu/about/services/request-image/ for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Technical Details
- Collection
- University of Michigan Museum of Art
- Image Size
- 965 x 1435
- File Size
- 152 KB
- Record
- 1971/2.44
- Link to this Item
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1971-sl-2.44/1971_2.44.jpg
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Related Links
Portfolios
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- Manifest
-
https://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/i/image/api/manifest/musart:1971-SL-2.44:1971_2.44.JPG
Cite this Item
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- Full citation
-
"Mask (Kasangu); Artist Unknown, African, Sala Mpasu Peoples Democratic Republic of the Congo." In the digital collection University of Michigan Museum of Art. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/m/musart/x-1971-sl-2.44/1971_2.44.jpg. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed April 24, 2024.
