Mask

Browse the collection

Culture Kuba

Title Mask (Bongo)

Date Unknown

Medium Wood, fiber, and and metal

Dimensions Object: 16 1/2 × 11 × 11 1/4 in. (41.9 × 27.9 × 28.6 cm)
Overall: 16 1/2 × 11 × 11 1/4 in. (41.9 × 27.9 × 28.6 cm)

Credit Line Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University

Accession Number 63.40

Share this artwork!

About this Work

Living between the Kasai and Sankuru rivers, the designation "Kuba" refers to more than a dozen different but related groups who traditionally acknowledge the leadership of the same king. Very conscious of their complex social and political hierarchy, Kuba men and women have for years made their status visible through ownership of elaborately patterned objects. That interest in pattern carries over into masquerade as well, where masks are decorated with paint and other materials.

Provenance
More Details

Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.

Viewing Information
This artwork is currently on view.

Request this Image
The Eskenazi Museum of Art provides images of its collection, free of charge, upon request. This artwork is under copyright protection. You can request the image and it will be emailed to you when the request is complete.

Cite this Page
"Mask | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=63.40