Accession No
1953.457
Description
Mwaash aMbooy or Mukyeem. Composite helmet mask decorated with glass beads and cowrie shells. Helmet formed of plant fibre fabric over thin layers of wood or bark; face bordered by yellow and blue glass beads and rows of cowries sewn onto skin; attached nose and mouth covered in black fabric and red, white and blue beadwork; ears of black fabric with blue beads; rear of head decorated with blue and white beads and cowrie shells; one rosette of blue beads and cowries; collar covered with black fabric and rows of cowries with remnants of netting at either end.
Place
Africa; Central Africa; Democratic Republic of the Congo
Period
Source
Wellcome Historical Medical Museum [donor]
Department
Anth
Reference Numbers
1953.457; 97266 [Wellcome Coll.]; 25 [Auction Lot]; 0107
Cultural Affliation
Kuba [Bakuba; Bushongo]
Material
Plant; Wood; Fibre; Skin; Glass; Shell; Cowrie Shell; Cloth
Local Term
Mwaash aMbooy; Mukyeem
Measurements
400mm
Events
Description (Labels & Markings)
Printed rectangular label adhered to chin area: '25'
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring
Description (Labels & Markings)
Wellcome collection label attached with string: '[AUCTION CAT] Drouot [DATE] 2/7/1931 [LOT] 25 [PRICE] 47/6 [OBJECT] Woven Prass [sic] & Shell Head Mask : Belgian Congo [ACCESSION NO] 97266 [CHECK NO] 2278/30th Dec /1932'.
Event Date
Author: maa
Description (Physical description)
Printed rectangular label, previously attached with string: '97266'
Added in pencil: 'Congo'
Added in blue pencil, incorrectly in front of the Wellcome number: 'Z'
On rear in blue pencil: 'MK AFRI'
In pencil: 'Bakuba' and '0107'
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring
Description (Labels & Markings)
Small label tag, previously attached with string: '97266'
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring
Context (Auction / Sale)
Purchased by the Wellcome Museum, from Hôtel Drouot on the 2nd of July 1931, lot 25.
Event Date 2/7/1931
Author: Katrina Dring
Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card for 1952.457: 'Canvas and skin mask with elaborate blue, white, yellow and a little red bead ornament, and cowries'.
Event Date 1953
Author: maa
Description (Physical description)
Woven plant fibre, with leather and dark blue/black cloth in centre of face. Evidence of insect damage.
Event Date 26/10/2001
Author: Jane Pettitt
Context (Amendments / updates)
'Mwaash aMbooy' and 'Mukyeem' have been added to the Local name field. See similar Kuba masks at the Brooklyn and Metropolitan Museums. Several similar masks also exist in the British Museum and have leopard skin on the face.
Event Date 17/11/2022
Author: Katrina Dring
Description (Physical description)
Mwaash aMbooy or Mukyeem. Composite helmet mask decorated with glass beads and cowrie shells. Helmet formed of plant fibre fabric over thin layers of wood or bark; face bordered by yellow and blue glass beads and rows of cowries sewn onto skin; attached nose and mouth covered in black fabric and red, white and blue beadwork; ears of black fabric with blue beads; rear of head decorated with blue and white beads and cowrie shells; one rosette of blue beads and cowries; collar covered with black fabric and rows of cowries with remnants of netting at either end.
Event Date 17/11/2022
Author: Katrina Dring
Conservation (Freezing)
CON.2023.5632 | Freezing
Event Date 31/3/2023
Author: Ayesha Fuentes
FM:122561
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