Monkey Mask – Wood – Hemba – DR Congo

Wonderful Hemba monkey mask from DR Congo in a rustic style.
Soko-Mutu combining animal (chimpanzee) and human facial traits. The Luba name is : Mwisu gwa So’o, in Kishwahili : Soko Mutu or Monkey face

Such masks were used as facemasks with a monkey skin cover and were also used in dances attached to the performer’s belt. Such masks were mainly kept in the house for protection much like a charm or Amulet. The pear-shaped head has small slit eyes, a huge nose with large, open nostrils and a broad, grinning tooth less mouth with thick lips. This fine example bears the signs of long and extensive use.

Provenance: former private collection from the Netherlands. Custom made stand is included in this lot.