Bayaka del Norte-Congo Mask.

Bayaka of the North-Congo mask.
Measurements: 110 cm.
The face of this mask, totally bleached, except for some blue traces around the eyes, ears and mouth, recalls the white
the eyes, ears and mouth, recalls the white masks of the Ogoue in Gabon. The mask,
the African color symbology, represents the spirit of a returned deceased, a rare subject in the
returned, a rare theme in the Yaka masks. As for the face of the mask, underneath a narrow forehead (framed laterally and
narrow forehead (framed laterally and superiorly by a slightly curved and simple hairline), of the
and simple curved hairline), from the eye sockets (in the shape of an elongated V that occupies the entire width of the face), emerges a large
of the face), a large nose with wide pierced nostrils (the whole of the nose and the line of the eye sockets).
and line of the eye sockets is shaped like a fleur-de-lis). The eyes, in relief, almond-shaped, are not
are not pierced and the pupils are marked by a slight depression on the inside of the almond-shaped rim.
inside the almond-shaped rim; the mouth, in the shape of an elongated heart, is open, showing the teeth
the teeth, well drawn, with the two upper central incisors filed in the shape of an inverted V; the chin is
inverted V-shaped; the chin is rounded and sharp-edged; the ears are two broad plates in strong relief.
and in strong relief. The whole gives the impression of introversion and awe in a totally expressionistic style.
a totally expressionist style. The superstructure is formed by an elongated cone, vertical
two horizontal discs (the antennae are missing); the collar, wide and very long, is not made of raffia, but is not
is not made of raffia but of vegetable fibers, much thicker, of a dark brown color.
brown.