Luba Wooden Mask Decorated With Glass Beads Congo Rohner Collection

This carved wooden mask from the Democratic Republic of the Congo reflects the artistic traditions of the Luba people, also known as the Baluba, who primarily inhabit the southern and eastern regions of the country. The mask is decorated with glass beads, adding color and visual detail to its carved form.

Luba art holds an important place in the cultural and spiritual life of the community. Masks and other carved objects may be associated with ceremonies, initiation rites, funerals, and important social events. In ceremonial contexts, masks can serve as intermediaries between the human and spirit worlds, expressing ancestral connections and spiritual beliefs through dance and performance. This piece reflects the craftsmanship and cultural richness of Luba artistic traditions

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 #349 on pg. 168

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