Menu
EUR
CAD
AUD
GBP
MXN
HKD
CNY
MYR
SEK
SGD
CHF
THBEarly 20th C. Luba-Hemba Helmet Mask w/ Buffalo Horns
Lot 70c
About Seller
Artemis Fine Arts
686 S Taylor Ave, Ste 106
Louisville, CO 80027
United States
Selling antiquities, ancient and ethnographic art online since 1993, Artemis Gallery specializes in Classical Antiquities (Egyptian, Greek, Roman, Near Eastern), Asian, Pre-Columbian, African / Tribal / Oceanographic art. Our extensive inventory includes pottery, stone, metal, wood, glass and textil...Read more
Categories
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$1,200 - $1,800
Starting Bid
$600
Absentee vs Live bid
Two ways to bid:
- Leave a max absentee bid and the platform will bid on your behalf up to your maximum bid during the live auction.
- Bid live during the auction and your bids will be submitted real-time to the auctioneer.
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $300 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $200,000 | $20,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Artemis Fine Arts
Aug 22, 2025
Set Reminder
2025-08-22 10:00:00
2025-08-22 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : Indigenous Art - Ralph T. Coe Center, Santa Fe, NM
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/indigenous-art---ralph-t-coe-center-santa-fe-nm-20324
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
Featuring works of art from the Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico, a non-profit focused on promoting Indigenous Arts globally. All proceeds from the sale of these items will support future grants to Rehoming Program participants. Artemis Fine Arts info@artemisfinearts.com
View Full Catalog (452)
- Lot Description
Central Africa, Zaire (Democratic Republic of Congo), Luba-Hemba people, ca. early 20th century CE. An imposing Luba-Hemba wood helmet mask, carved with serene and dignified facial features beneath an imposing headdress of curved buffalo horns. The face is elegantly modeled, with downcast almond-shaped eyes, a slender nose, and a softly closed mouth framed by refined planes and gentle contours. The coiffure sweeps into an arched frame that extends downward to encircle the cheeks, with finely incised geometric motifs at the forehead that add subtle ornamentation. Time-worn patina reveals the deep age and repeated ritual use of the piece. The anthropo-zoomorphic composition, uniting human visage with the symbolic horns of the buffalo, reflects an iconographic tradition found among the Luba-Hemba and related Western Luntu cultures. Size: 9.5" L x 13.5" W x 16.4" H (24.1 cm x 34.3 cm x 41.7 cm); 24.1" H (61.2 cm) on included custom stand.
The buffalo horns have inspired several interpretations: for some, they recall mythical figures linked to the buffalo within the influential Bambudye brotherhood, guardians of collective memory and esoteric knowledge. For others, the motif echoes associations with hunter brotherhood rites, in which strength, courage, and mastery of the natural world were celebrated. Still others see the form as tied to political authority, for in many Luba-related cultures, helmet masks with curved horns were connected to brotherhoods closely allied with ruling power.
Masks of this type would have been danced in ceremonies that intertwined myth, memory, and authority, possibly marking initiations, funerary rites, or public events reinforcing social hierarchy. The present example embodies the blend of elegance, power, and symbolic resonance that characterizes the finest Luba-Hemba sculptural traditions, making it a significant and culturally rich work of Central African art.
Cf. Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, EO.0.0.23470.
Provenance: Ralph T. Coe Center for the Arts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, acquired in 2010 via descent; ex-private collection of Ralph T. Coe, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA, purchased in August 2005; ex-Taylor "Tad" Dale, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA
All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
#196377Old repair to tip of proper right horn with break line visible. Chipping with some minor losses to rim on verso, as well as nicks, scratches, and abrasions to surface as shown, all commensurate with age. Some areas of old, inactive insect damage. Otherwise, very nice overall presentation with good remaining detail and rich patina.Condition
- Shipping Info
-
All shipping is handled in-house for your convenience. Your invoice from Artemis Fine Arts will include shipping calculation instructions. If in doubt, please ask before bidding for estimated shipping costs for individual items.
-
- Buyer's Premium
