SKU: 146113
Makonde Njorowe Pregnant Belly Mask Tanzania
Height: 30.0
Width: 13.5
Depth: 7.0
Width: 13.5
Depth: 7.0
$290.00
Description
This so-called pregnant belly mask comes from the Makonde people. Women play an important role in Makonde mythology and art. The legend is that a man carved a figure of a woman, fell asleep, and awoke to find that the statue had come to life. She gave him many children and later became a venerated ancestress. The Makonde have an ancestress cult. Female body masks, depicting a torso with breasts, a pregnant belly, and sometimes scarification patterns, promoted fertility. This female body mask was part of the costume of a special ndimu masker called amwalindembo presenting a young pregnant woman. The mask was worn by a man and his performances emphasize the difficulty of childbirth.
DL0323
Approximate Age: 20th Century
People: Makonde
Country of Origin: Tanzania, Mozambique
Condition
Damage/Repair: Hole in back of mask not visible from the front. Worn surface, a few chips on bottom, see photos for details
Overall Condition: Good. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners.
Overall Condition: Good. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners.