A carved wooden mask in the Lega lukwakongo style: a concave, heart-shaped face whitened with kaolin, narrow slit eyes, a long nose and small mouth, and a row of holes along the edge where a fibre beard was attached.
Among the Lega of eastern Congo, masks like this belonged to members of the Bwami society, which governed social and moral life. They weren't worn over the face: members carried them on the arm or set them on a fence of posts at meetings, where they marked the owner's rank.
Condition: Kaolin worn and flaking across the face; small loss at the lower lip/mouth edge; scattered surface scratches and handling wear; fibre beard no longer present. No cracks seen.
