IMPORTANT BIOMBO HELMET MASK DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO Made of polychrome wood and plant fibres H.: 56 cm (22 in.) An important Biombo helmet mask, Democratic Republic of the Congo Provenance: Jef Vanderstraete (1904–1985), Lasne Private collection, Belgium Collection of Jean-Jacques Rotthier (1932–2009), Brussels, then passed down through the family Exhibitions: Antwerp, Etnografisch Museum – MAS Museum aan de Stroom, ‘Face of the Spirits. Masks from the Zaire Basin’, 18 September – 31 December 1993 Washington, National Museum of African Art – Smithsonian Institution, *Face of the Spirits. Masks from the Zaire Basin*, 20 April – 25 September 1994 Paris, Musée Dapper, *Signes du corps*, 23 September 2004 – 3 April 2005 Brussels, Belgium, Congo: Mythical Masks, La Galerie Bergé, 2009 Bibliography: Cornet (Joseph), Art of Black Africa in the Land of the Zaire River, Brussels, 1972, p. 155, no. 80  Murray (Jocelyn), *Cultural Atlas of Africa*, Oxford: Phaidon, 1981, p. 2  Herreman (Frank) & Petrides (Constantin), *Face of the Spirits. Masks from the Zaire Basin*, Gent: Snoeck, 1993, p. 241 Falgayrettes-Leveau (Christiane), Writing on the Skin, Paris: Musée Dapper, 2004, p. 43 Congo, Mythical Masks, Marc Leo Felix, Brussels: Marc Leo Felix Tribal SPRL, 2009, pp. 92–93 This impressive helmet-mask, characterised by its wide slit eyes, arched eyebrows and the geometric patterns incised on its cheeks and chin, bears witness to the stylistic affinity of its makers with the Kuba kingdom. It differs, however, from the masks of neighbouring cultures in the three carved protrusions that crown its headdress. During ritual use, feathers were attached to the tips of these three protrusions. Like the Kuba, these masks were used in funeral ceremonies as well as in initiation rites. Collected in the early 20th century, this monumental mask is one of the most remarkable known examples of its kind and has been featured in several major institutional exhibitions in Europe and the United States. AN IMPORTANT BIOMBO HELMET MASK DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO Polychromed wood and plant fibre H.: 22 in. Provenance: Jef Vanderstraete (1904–1985), Lasne Private Collection, Belgium Jean-Jacques Rotthier Collection (1932–2009), Brussels, then by descent. Exhibitions: Antwerp, Etnografisch Museum – MAS Museum aan de Stroom, *Face of the Spirits. Masks from the Zaire Basin, 18 September – 31 December 1993 Washington, National Museum of African Art – Smithsonian Institution, Face of the Spirits. Masks from the Zaire Basin, 20 April – 25 September 1994 Paris, Musée Dapper, ‘Signs of the Body’, 23 September 2004 – 3 April 2005 Brussels, Belgium, ‘Congo, Mythical Masks’, La Galerie Bergé, 2009  Bibliography: Cornet (Joseph), Art of Black Africa in the Land of the Zaire River, Brussels, 1972, p. 155, no. 80 Murray (Jocelyn), Cultural Atlas of Africa, Oxford: Phaidon, 1981, p. 2 Herreman (Frank) & Petrides (Constantin), *Face of the Spirits. Masks from the Zaire Basin*, Gent: Snoeck, 1993, p. 241 Falgayrettes-Leveau (Christiane), L’écriture sur la peau, Paris: Musée Dapper, 2004, p. 43 Congo, Mythical Masks, Marc Leo Felix, Brussels: Marc Leo Felix Tribal SPRL, 2009, pp. 92–93  This impressive helmet mask, with its large slit eyes, arched eyebrows, and incised geometric motifs across the cheeks and chin, demonstrates the close stylistic affinity of its makers with the Kuba Kingdom. It is distinguished from the masks of neighbouring cultures by the three prongs carved at the top of the head. During ritual performances, feathers would have been attached to the tips of these three projections. Like the Kuba, the people who created these masks used them in funerary ceremonies and initiation rites. Collected in the early twentieth century, this monumental mask is among the finest known examples of its kind and has been featured in major institutional exhibitions in Europe and the United States.