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Between and Mortarboard

UMMA Object Specific Fields




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35 Items in this Learning Collection
Guli Society Mask

Collection Object
Ceremonial sword (afena)
This sword has an iron blade that is narrow toward the handle and gradually widens at the top, ending in a slight curve. Along the edge of the blade are small, half-circular knobs and near the top of the blade there are geometric cut-outs. The handle is formed by two spheres connected by a bar. At the bottom of the handle is a conical projection. The handle is covered in gold-leaf. 
Collection Object
Stool
Wooden stool with a rectangular base and a central column supporting a rectangular seat that curves upward at each end. The central column is decorated with open-work designs of triangles and a checkerboard pattern. Surrounding the column are four rectangular posts decorated with triangular projections along the outer edges. 
Collection Object
Comb

Collection Object
Mask
Large, ovoid mask with a dark patina. The forehead of the face is raised, sloping down to a short, broad nose. The eyes are formed by two cresent shapes separated by a rectangle. On each cheek are three raised marks in a vertical line. The mouth is closed and may be moveable. 
Collection Object
Knife
With iron blade and wood shaft as a kneeling figure.
Collection Object
Staff

Collection Object
Staff
This wooden Chokwe staff features a smooth, narrow rod and a large carving of a female figure at its finial.  The female bears an elaborate, ridged coiffure, closed, coffee-bean shaped eyes, raised scarifications on her face, torso, and back, rounded shoulders, arms positioned down by her side, and a protruding navel. 
Collection Object
Mortar
This wooden mortar is decorated by finely carved geometric patterns and features two anthropomorphic heads bearing recognizable Chokwe characteristics including coffeebean-shaped eyes enclosed in large ocular cavities. The lower head, the face of an idealized female (<em>mwana pwo</em>), forms the body of the mortar. The upper head, turned at a 90 degree angle from the lower head, is wearing a headdress which extends behind his face. Resting on top of the upper head is the bowl of the mortar.
Collection Object
Face Mask
An oval wooden face made of dark shiny wood with a textile braid of hair all around, wrapped tight to the head. The eyes are slightly shut and the mouth is open.
Collection Object
Spoon

Collection Object
Poro Mask
Oval black face mask articulated, protruding angular mouth, nose, and eyes with eye slits. The figure has cowrie shells at the top of the forehead with braided raffia hair on either side of the head and bells beneath the chin.&nbsp;
Collection Object
Mask

Collection Object
Chair
With tripod legs and long curving back.
Collection Object
Secret Society Mask

Collection Object
Mask (Kasangu)
Face mask made of wood, covered in white kaolin; face has round, bulging forehead, deep set narrow eyes, small round ears, fiber beard, open rectangular mouth and pointed teeth; basketry weave that held mask on the dancer’s head is visible at back and sides; raffia attachment on top of head frayed and missing.<br />
Collection Object
Mask

Collection Object
Mask
With fringe beard, carved teeth and scarifications.
Collection Object
N'tomo Society Initiation Mask

Collection Object
Royal Mask (Ngaady a Mwaash)

Collection Object
Chair
This wooden chair has a square, leather covered seat and four legs. The back of the chair also has a leather covering. Much of the chair is decorated with metal tacks.
Collection Object
Ceremonial Sword
This sword with three barbell-shaped handles is attached to a wrought iron shaft ending in two large, curved blades. The shaft is composed of three sections of hourglass-shaped open work interspersed with knots. The two top blades have triangular cut-outs. 
Collection Object
Display figure
A poised, naturalistic male figure sits on a stool, holding an egg in his right hand, his left hand resting on his left knee. The head is round, almost egg-shaped with a high, sloping forehead rising from pronounced eyebrows. The eyes are almond-shaped, the nose long and slender, the mouth a small straignt line. The neck is long and ringed. The surface of the figure is smooth, carefully finished, golden brown in color, though worn or mottled in places. 
Collection Object
Gold-weight
Gold-weight in the shape of a wide, flat blade with a curved hook at one end and a handle in the form of two balls connected by a narrow rod with a small ball the end. 
Collection Object
Commemorative Head
This work is a terracotta head with a narrow, striated neck. The head is flat and circular, slightly tilted back on the neck. The mouth is open with three diagonal marks on each cheek. The eyebrows are formed by one continuous, curved line above the eyes and nose. 
Collection Object
Vessel Lid
A circular cast metal vessel lid with a figural scene on top. Two seated male figures face each other, while both hold staffs and one wears a type of headdress. Between the figures sits a snake and a bowl. The top of the lid is also decorated with an axe, a crocodile or turtle, and spiral designs. 
Collection Object
Gold-weight
Gold-weight in the shape of a curved rod with an incised knob at the narrow end and three notched arches at the wider end.
Collection Object
Gold-dust Scale
Gold-dust scale in three parts. There are two round pans, one larger than the other, and a horizontal beam. The pans each have three holes around the outer edge and an incised circle at the center of each pan. The horizontal beam has a central square projection with a small hole and two hooks on either end. 
Collection Object
Commemorative Head
Ceramic head on a hollow cylinder with a fluted base. The figure&#39;s eyes and mouth are thin, while the nose is angular. The top of the head is covered in small protruding points.&nbsp;
Collection Object
Commemorative Head
Ceramic head atop a hollow cylinder with a fluted base. The face is round with small eyes, nose, and mouth. A horizontal line cuts across the forehead of the figure. At the top of the head are three sets of two interlocking loops, one of which has almost completely broken off.&nbsp;
Collection Object
Vessel
Cast vessel with a round body attached to a rectangular base by a short, spiral column. The body is decorated with figures of turtles, crocodiles, and fish. There are also small spirals across the vessel body. Near the top are two small, round handles. 
Collection Object
Gold-weight
Gold-weight in the shape of a square base with two crossed lines, each with a set of two smaller parallel lines branching outward. 
Collection Object
Gold-weight
Gold-weight in the shape of a curved rod with three round protrusions on the wider end. The opposite end tapers into a rounded point. 
Collection Object
Commemorative Head
This terracotta head with a striated neck is decorated with a pattern of raised knobs and two strings of multi-colored beads. The base of the neck is decorated with three rings of wavy lines. The face is somewhat flat and circular, tilting backwards slightly. There are three diagonal marks on each side of the open mouth. The eyes are almond shaped, framed by brows in the form of one curved line. The hairstyle is formed by four triangular projections. The oblong-shaped ears sit high on each side of the face. 
Collection Object
Gold-weight
Gold-weight in the shape of a square base with two raised, crossed lines each with a set of two smaller parallel lines branching outward. 
Collection Object

Copyright
All Rights Reserved ()

Mask (Kasangu)

Accession Number
1971/2.44

Title
Mask (Kasangu)

Artist(s)
Salampasu

Artist Nationality
Salampasu

Object Creation Date
1920-1960

Medium & Support
wood, raffia, kaolin and fiber

Dimensions
22 15/16 in x 9 7/16 in x 8 1/4 in (58.3 cm x 24 cm x 21 cm);22 15/16 in x 9 7/16 in x 9 13/16 in (58.3 cm x 24 cm x 25 cm)

Credit Line
Museum Purchase assisted by the Friends of the Museum of Art

Label copy
March 28, 2009
These formidable masks played a vital role in the Sala Mpasu’s warrior society, a powerful association through which men increased their authority by securing the right to wear particular masks. The most prestigious of these were the idangani masks, which represented a married couple and were constructed entirely from fiber. The female mask is identified by the small fiber knobs that recall a popular woman’s hairstyle. The kasangu mask was made of wood and represented a warrior. Its open, rectangular mouth exposes pointed teeth—a Sala Mpasu mark of beauty.
As new forms of authority and wealth were imposed by the Belgian colonial state, the Sala Mpasu disbanded their warrior society and destroyed many of the masks associated with it. However, the resilience of Sala Mpasu artists remains evident in the new forms of masks they continue to create for entertainment, boys’ initiation ceremonies, and the external art market.

Subject matter
In pre-colonial Sala Mpasu society authority was vested in members of the Matambu warriors’ society who could secure the rights to wear an array of important masks. The kasangu mask was made of wood and represented a warrior. Covered in kaolin, a fine white clay, it is distinguished by its open rectangular mouth and pointed teeth—a Sala Mpasu mark of beauty.

Physical Description
Face mask made of wood, covered in white kaolin; face has round, bulging forehead, deep set narrow eyes, small round ears, fiber beard, open rectangular mouth and pointed teeth; basketry weave that held mask on the dancer’s head is visible at back and sides; raffia attachment on top of head frayed and missing.

Primary Object Classification
Wood and Woodcarving

Primary Object Type
mask

Collection Area
African

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.

Keywords
face masks
masquerades
prestige
wood (plant material)

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