Azande Mask Congo Rohner Collection

Zande (Azande), Democratic Republic of the Congo

A striking Zande (Azande) wooden mask, attributed to the Ubangi/Uele region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 

The reverse confirms the mask's construction as a wearable object, with multiple perforations for attachment and a relatively flat, unfinished interior. 

Zande masks are associated with the Mani/Yanda ritual and initiation societies, and documented examples include elongated masks with narrow, graceful faces and incised facial decoration. 

 Antique/vintage condition with extensive surface wear, abrasions, age-related cracks and losses, pigment remnants, and other signs of age and use. Please examine photographs carefully for condition details.

An unusual and visually compelling example of Central African mask sculpture, particularly notable for its exceptionally elongated form, incised decoration, and aged surface.

Provenance: John R. Rohner Collection
Rohner, a museum curator for decades, aimed his practiced eye for authenticity to African art beginning in the early 1980s. His passion for this art only grew through the decades he built his collection––always with an aim for a broad and representative array of pieces. The collection appears in his book, Art Treasures from African Runners (2000, University Press of Colorado). 

Item #166 on pg. 102

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