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Gain access to this incredible resource through either a monthly or a yearly subscription and search the entire collection from your desktop, compare multiple images side by side and zoom into the minute details of the images. Visit www.davidrumsey.com/amica for more information on the collection, click on the link below the revolving thumbnail to the right, or email us at amica@luna-img.com . Creator Nationality: African Creator Name-CRT: Sala Mpasu, Democratic Republic of the Congo Title: Face Mask View: Full View Creation Start Date: 1900 Creation End Date: 1975 Creation Date: 20th century Creation Place: Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa Object Type: Costume and Jewelry Classification Term: Masks Materials and Techniques: Fiber (raffia) Dimensions: Height: 25"; width: 10 1/4" Description: Male face mask of dark brown dyed woven raffia fiber; very thick, heavy bulging forehead above recessed, elongated oval eyes and globular nose; shortened cheeks with bundles of loose raffia fiber attached across base as beard-like fringe; open weave raffia coiffure and peaked cap-like bead covering; coiffure indicated by 3 rows of twisted fiber knobs encircling bead above forehead; thin strand of light tan cane woven into forehead in zigzag pattern; conical raffia cap with feathers usually worn on top of mask. AMICA Contributor: Brooklyn Children's Museum Owner Location: Brooklyn, New York, USA ID Number: 75.36.2 Credit Line: Gift of Dr. Herbert S. Zim, 1975 Rights: http://www.amico.org/rights/bcm_.html}RIG Context: The Sala Mpasu (or Salampasu) of southern Zaire were a powerful, reclusive warrior society and resisted with some success the expansion of the neighboring Lunda kingdom from the 18th century until the late 19th century, until forced to seek the assistance of the Lunda against raids by the Chokwe. They continued to be reclusive and their masquerades have not been much studied. Sala Mpasu authority was vested in the elite, wealthy kalumba, leaders who settled disputes and trained warriors. Young men were initiated into the first warrior's society at a circumcision camp, apprenticed to a kalumba, and gained wealth, prestige, and knowledge from raids, eventually moving up to higher mask grades. Each new mask required large payments of cattle, food, drink, and other goods to members. Upon the owner's death, all his masks were danced and his wealth distributed to the dancers; they were not inherited. This woven fiber mask type belonged to members of the Idangani Society, which was restricted to members of certain families. Unlike other Sala Mpasu masks, the right to purchase these masks was passed down from father to son. Both male and female masks, representing husband and wife, have long fiber beard-like fringes. The man's usually has a tall conical hat topped by feathers, the woman's has fiber knobs as a coiffure. This mask is male, although the hat is low and without feathers. Joining the society was expensive but auspicious, and so men often joined before embarking on new ventures. AMICA ID: BCM_.75.36.2 AMICA Library Year: 2003 Media Metadata Rights: AMICA PUBLIC RIGHTS: a) Access to the materials is granted for personal and non-commercial use. b) A full educational license for non-commercial use is available from Cartography Associates at www.davidrumsey.com/amica/institution_subscribe.html c) Licensed users may continue their examination of additional materials provided by Cartography Associates, and d) commercial rights are available from the rights holder. Home
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