$2,820Sale Price|20% Off
Kuba Mask African Bwoom Tribal Congo in Wood, Vibrates Vegetables, Animal Hair
Located in Milano, IT
The African Kuba Bwoom tribal mask is the oldest known mask, the Kuba bwoom mask.
Animal Skin, Organic Material, Wood
Mid 20th-Century African Helmet Mask
Located in San Francisco, CA
On offer is a Kuba Bwoom helmet mask from the Kuba Kingdom (Democratic Republic of the Congo), specifically featuring a heavily stylized ceremonial royal coiffure.
Fur, Shell, Raffia, Mirror, Wood, Feathers
Kuba Bwoom Mask
Located in Austin, TX
According to myth, Bwoom came from the north and was not a part of the Kuba kingdom.
Copper
Sold
H 12 in W 12 in D 24 in
Vintage African Bwoom Helmet Mask from the Kuba People of the Republic of Congo
Located in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
One of the three royal masks, the Bwoom is one of the oldest mask types used by the Kuba people who live in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Bronze
Sold
H 11.25 in W 15.75 in D 9.25 in
African Kuba Bwoom Helmet Mask Kasai Democratic Republic of the Congo
Located in Forney, TX
The bwoom is one of three types of royal Kuba masks, all of which are treated as embodiments of nature spirits (mingesh).
Leather, Shell, Wood, Beads
Today, art enthusiasts and venturesome interior designers find a lot to love and appreciate about antique and vintage masks, particularly as they have earned a distinct place amid a collection of folk art and other collectibles and curiosities in contemporary homes.
Folk art refers to art that people, not classically trained, created for either utilitarian or decorative purposes. With respect to visual art in folk art, it is typically reflective of a community’s culture and usually handmade by craftspeople working within a popular tradition. Masks, as part of this history, have been used in carnivals, theater, medicine, therapy, religion and more. The use of masks in rituals and sacred ceremonies goes back thousands of years, and masks in general are believed to be much older. And all kinds of other uses have been found for masks and face coverings over time. We have enlisted these accessories for protection, to signal modesty, facilitate flirtation, enable licentiousness or simply to look cool.
Archaeologists found a mask in Palestine that is believed to be 9,000 years old, a Neolithic-era stone mask that may have been part of rituals associated with the worship of ancestors. Some tribal masks are worn as an offering to the gods. Masks are among the most important African art forms, for example, and traditional African masks can be used to lend a concrete form to an invisible spirit. Dancers donning wooden tribal masks celebrate important events to honor their deceased ancestors. These masks are also very important devices for storytelling and sharing the oral history of a community.
For Asian artists, specific colors are used in masks to convey different values and ideas. In Japan, a red Oni mask worn by performers during a festival might signify anger, while in China’s Peking Opera, a mask that has been hand-painted gold would be worn by an immortal.
Mexican craftspeople make masks for traditional celebrations and ceremonial dances. Mexican masks are part of the country’s folk-art traditions that go back thousands of years and play a role in festivals and theater. A common symbol of the Mexican holiday Day of the Dead is a skull, which is widely represented in masks (although the innumerable activities associated with the holiday are by no means universal).
We’re inviting you to explore and pay respect to the long folk-art traditions that underpin mask-making by introducing antique and vintage masks to your space. Find an exciting collection on 1stDibs today.