Items Similar to "Messenger Mask Lega - Zaire, " Wood & Clay created in Africa circa 1925
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 6
Unknown"Messenger Mask Lega - Zaire, " Wood & Clay created in Africa circa 1925circa 1925
circa 1925
About the Item
This mask, made out of wood and clay, was created by an unknown artist from the Lega tribe in Zaire. This mask was to be worn on the chest.
12 1/2" x 8 3/8" x 1 1/4" mask
Bwami masks and figures are symbols of the owner's rank within the Bwami society. The objects represent moral or social values, and are used during initiation rites. The Bwami works of art are often associated with proverbs, and these proverbs in conjunction with dance, poetry and song give wisdom to members of the society. Beauty, knowledge and power are intertwined.
Some artwork can only be seen, handled or owned by the highest grades of the society. The objects are typically small and simple in form, and have a striking patina that derives from being handled or worn on the body. Ivory objects usually have russet or yellow patinas. The masks are fairly standardized, although the most important masks with special ritual use or symbolic meaning may have distinctive design. A typical mask will have a concave heart-shaped face. The forehead protrudes slightly, the nose is narrow, eyes are slits and the mouth is slightly open. Every time a mask is used it is rubbed with white clay, over time acquiring a white patina.
About the Seller
4.9
Gold Seller
Premium sellers maintaining a 4.3+ rating and 24-hour response times
Established in 1966
1stDibs seller since 2017
430 sales on 1stDibs
Typical response time: 2 hours
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Shipping from: Milwaukee, WI
- Return Policy
Authenticity Guarantee
In the unlikely event there’s an issue with an item’s authenticity, contact us within 1 year for a full refund. DetailsMoney-Back Guarantee
If your item is not as described, is damaged in transit, or does not arrive, contact us within 7 days for a full refund. Details24-Hour Cancellation
You have a 24-hour grace period in which to reconsider your purchase, with no questions asked.Vetted Professional Sellers
Our world-class sellers must adhere to strict standards for service and quality, maintaining the integrity of our listings.Price-Match Guarantee
If you find that a seller listed the same item for a lower price elsewhere, we’ll match it.Trusted Global Delivery
Our best-in-class carrier network provides specialized shipping options worldwide, including custom delivery.More From This Seller
View All"The Merger Will Have Its Ups & Downs" Clay Sculpture on Wood by Reginald K. Gee
By Reginald K. Gee
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"The Merger Will Have Its Ups & Downs" is an original clay sculpture painted with acrylic paint by Reginald K. Gee. The sculptures are on a stained wood base. This sculpture depicts ...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Clay, Wood, Acrylic
"Epoxy Glued Ming Dynasty, " Original Clay Sculpture signed by Reginald K. Gee
By Reginald K. Gee
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Epoxy Glued Ming Dynasty" is an original acrylic-painted clay sculpture by Reginald K. Gee. The artist signed the piece on the bottom. This sculpture depicts two Asian men without a...
Category
Early 2000s Neo-Expressionist Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Clay, Wood, Acrylic
"Casas Grandes Pottery, " a Ceramic Pot signed with Benito Morass
By Benito Morass
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Casas Grandes Pottery" is a signed hand-built ceramic vessel with slip glaze created by Benito Morass. It features an abstract geometric design ...
Category
1990s Abstract Geometric Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic, Slip, Glaze
Diaulos Player
By Pablo Picasso
Located in Milwaukee, WI
Cat. no. 1 in the catalogue raisonne by Alain Ramie, Picasso: Catalogue of the Edited Ceramic Works 1947 - 1971. Galerie Madoura. 1988. Artist's stamp on verso. Edition 151/200.
Category
Mid-20th Century Sculptures
Materials
Earthenware, Glaze
'Art Column (ART DBG)' original signed ceramic sculpture toy blocks pop art
Located in Milwaukee, WI
Art Column (ART DBG)' is an original signed ceramic sculpture by Robin Campo. It is a rare and early example of the artist's fanciful work, made only a year after he earned his Master of Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and while he was developing his reputation through local galleries. Campo is here working in the later traditions of pop art by using the ceramic medium for trompe l'oeil effect: the sculpture is made to look like an oversize stack of toy wood...
Category
1980s Pop Art Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic, Glaze
"Superdeer Complains to Zeus about Megabuck, " Ceramic signed by Bill Reid
By Bill Reid
Located in Milwaukee, WI
"Superdeer Complains to Zeus about Megabuck" is an original ceramic sculpture by Bill Reid. The artist signed the piece on the back and the title is stamped into the front. There is ...
Category
1980s Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic
You May Also Like
Soft Landing
By Rachel Denny
Located in Bozeman, MT
Rachel Denny's work is an exploration of the seductive beauty of our natural world and the imprint that human intervention has made on its flora and fauna. Denny works in a variety o...
Category
2010s Contemporary Sculptures
Materials
Steel
Smooth Sailing
By Rachel Denny
Located in Bozeman, MT
Rachel Denny's work is an exploration of the seductive beauty of our natural world and the imprint that human intervention has made on its flora and fauna. Denny works in a variety o...
Category
2010s Contemporary Sculptures
Materials
Metal
Loren Eiferman, 2V, 180 Pieces of Wood with Celluclay, 2015, Polymer, Wood, Clay
By Loren Eiferman
Located in Darien, CT
Over many decades Loren Eiferman has created and mastered a unique technique of working with wood—her primary material.
First, she begins with a drawing of an idea. Then she takes...
Category
2010s Abstract Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Clay, Wood, Polymer
Leaping Fox
By Rachel Denny
Located in Bozeman, MT
Rachel Denny's work is an exploration of the seductive beauty of our natural world and the imprint that human intervention has made on its flora and fauna...
Category
2010s Contemporary Sculptures
Materials
Metal
CORAL OCEAN
By Arozarena De La Fuente
Located in Mexico City, MX
Coral Ocean
"The ideal state is not one in which everyone has access to the same amount of wealth, but in proportion to their contribution to the general wealth." -Henry George
Ma...
Category
2010s Contemporary Figurative Sculptures
Materials
Ceramic, Clay, Resin, Wood, Acrylic
American Surrealist pipes and playing cards spirit of Magritte abstract Montage
By Charles Green Shaw
Located in Norwich, GB
I love this extraordinary American surrealist piece - a collage/montage, an assembly of objects in a velvet-clad box/frame - for a number of reasons reasons.
I love the fact that it depicts pipes, among the most iconic images of the surrealist movement, rooted in Magritte’s famous 1929 painting which depicts a pipe accompanied by the caption “Ceci n'est pas une pipe” (This is not a pipe). Marcel Duchamp loved using pipes...
Category
1930s Surrealist Abstract Sculptures
Materials
Clay, Glass, Paper, Found Objects, Wood
Recently Viewed
View AllMore Ways To Browse
African Wood Art
African Wood Sculptures
Antique Clay Art
Concave Art
Sculpture Face Eyes
Antique Wood Mask
African Clay
Nose Sculpture
Concave Sculpture
Face Mask Sculpture
Africa Wood Mask
African Wood Mask
Small Ivory Sculpture
African Face Mask
African Mask White
African Rub
Antique African Masks
Antique Ivory Chest