Mask
| Culture | Kuba |
|---|---|
| Title | Mask (Ishyeen Imaalu) |
| Date | Unknown |
| Medium | Wood, fiber, pigment, and and raffia cloth |
| Dimensions | Object: 12 1/4 × 13 × 12 7/8 in. (31.1 × 33 × 32.7 cm) Overall: 12 1/4 × 13 × 12 7/8 in. (31.1 × 33 × 32.7 cm) |
| Credit Line | Gift of Allan Gerdau, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 76.151.1 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
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, such as this example, are decorated with paint and other materials.
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.
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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=76.151.1