African Kuba King Mukenge Helmet Mask

Original Title

Kuba King Mukenge Helmet Mask

Devised Title

African Kuba King Mukenge Helmet Mask

Date

Unknown

Creator

Unknown See all items with this value

Contributor

Meek-Eaton Black Archives

Description

This rare, highly revered royal mask originates from the Kuba tribe in the Kasai region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Because the Kuba saw the elephant as a symbol of wealth and leadership, the mask is modeled after an elephant’s trunk and embellished with cowrie beads (which only royalty could handle in exchange for valuable ivory).

Primary Subject

Unknown See all items with this value

Art See all items with this value

Spirituality See all items with this value

Folklore See all items with this value

Additional Subject

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Location

Tallahassee

Leon County

Florida

United States of America

Type

Three-Dimensional Object

Medium

Cowrie Shells

Caprine

Burlap

Straw

Additional Techniques

Sewing

Carving

Measurements

L:38cm x W:35.5cm

Format

JPEG

HBCU Identifier

CO_0001_03_01_0009

HCAC Identifier

HCAC.FAMU.0120

Rights

All rights reserved. The use of any part of these objects and photographs transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, or stored in a retrieval system without the prior written consent of MEBA is an infringement of the copyright law.

Contributing Institution

Florida A&M University

Source

Black Archives

Collection

African Artifacts Collection See all items with this value

Language

English