African Arts Gallery

Cephalomorphic cup with a long handle, among the prestigious insignia of the Pende. The lower part of the face, as if swollen, gradually joins the neck. A discreet point is enough to indicate the chin. The upturned nose softens the sketchy features where small holes show teeth, pupils and nostrils. A hairstyle is outlined, disappearing behind the horseshoe ears.
Satin black brown patina. Erosions of use, crack of desication.

The Western Pende live on the banks of the Kwilu, while the Eastern settled on the banks of the Kasaï downstream from Tshikapa. The influences of neighboring ethnic groups, Mbla, Suku, Wongo, Leele, Kuba and Salempasu imprinted on their large tribal art sculpture. Within this diversity, the Mbuya masks, realistic, produced every ten years, take on a festive function, and embody different characters. The masks of initiation and those of power, the minganji, represent the ancestors and occur successively during the same ceremonies. Cups could be used to seal pacts.