Beschreibung:

kikashi Wood Height 12 1/2in (31.5cm) Provenance Karl Plassman Collection, Belgium Thence by descent Alain Naoum Gallery, Brussels Acquired from the above by the present owner As noted by Francois Neyt, 'Among the Kalebwe, the Bwadi bwa Kifwebe association has female masks called bikashi (sing. kikashi) in which the color white, linked with known signs, prevails. These much rarer masks have no sagittal crest. They are enhanced by a slightly raised or flat black band that separates the two lobes of the skull and runs down onto the bridge of the nose. [. . .] A plume that prolongs the sagittal band of the skull contains magical materials and is crowned by feathers. As most of the actions with purposes of either punishment or maintaining order fall within the competence of male masks, the less threatening female masks had the reputation of "detecting what is hidden," writes Viviane Baeke. They were used in rituals celebrating the new moon and their dance occurred to activate beneficial forces.' (Kifwebe - A Century of Songye and Luba Masks, 5 Continents, 2019, p. 110)