Miniature mask "Lukungu". Beautiful quality of... Lot 39

Miniature mask "Lukungu". Beautiful quality of sculpture and patina. Lega, DRC. Carved and patinated bone. Period: 1930/1950? H 25 cm including base X 8 cm In the Lega artistic corpus, among the objects of initiation to the "Bwami" society, the ultimate category is that of the Lukungu masks such as this one. These are small individual masks made of ivory or bone that mark the rank of the Lutumbo lwa Kindi, the highest rank. The Lukungu mask is never worn on the face or body of its owner, it is only taken out during Kindi initiations. When an initiate dies, it is placed on his grave and then passed on to a nephew who is entitled to inherit it. While women may handle certain Bwami objects, they never handle their husband's Lukungu. Provenance: Collection of the painter Willem Dolphyn, Antwerp. Collection of the painter's son, Walter Dolphyn, Antwerp. Collection of Dr Smits, Belgium. A certificate from Mr Humblet accompanies this work.