Skip to Content

Helmet Mask (Mukenga)

Mask with protruding stylized elephant trunk, red feather pom-pom, attached beard.

Image actions

  • Mask with protruding stylized elephant trunk, red feather pom-pom, attached beard.

Date:

Possibly late 19th to mid -20th century

Artist:

Kuba
Kasai region, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Central Africa

About this artwork

The mukenga mask is worn along with a richly layered costume of raffia and beaded ornaments at funerals of titleholders in the northern part of the Kuba Kingdom. Its form and materials comprise elements associated with status and leadership, including cowrie shells, leopard fur, monkey hair, glass beads, and red tail feathers of the African gray parrot. A prominent trunk and two tusks refer to the elephant, the supreme symbol of wealth and leadership among the Kuba.

Status

On View, Gallery 137

Department

Arts of Africa

Culture

Kuba

Title

Helmet Mask (Mukenga)

Place

Democratic Republic of the Congo (Object made in)

Date  Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

1875–1950

Medium

Wood, glass beads, cowrie shells, feathers, raffia, fur, fabric, thread, monkey hair, and bells

Dimensions

57.5 × 24.1 × 20.3 cm (22 5/8 × 9 1/2 × 8 in.)

Credit Line

Laura T. Magnuson Fund

Reference Number

1982.1504

Extended information about this artwork

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

Share

Sign up for our enewsletter to receive updates.

Learn more

Image actions

Share