Helmet Mask (Bwoom)
<p>Embellished with cowrie shells, beads, seed pods, copper sheeting, goatskin, and hair, <em>bwoom</em> is one of three types of royal Kuba masks, all of which are treated as embodiments of nature spirits (<em>mingesh</em>). According to one local interpretation, the <em>bwoom</em> mask represents a prince who suffered from a neurological condition that caused his head to swell with accumulated fluid. Another says that <em>bwoom</em> is the image of one of the original Twa (Pygmy) inhabitants of the region. During performances the masks reenact episodes in the foundation of the kingdom.</p>
Catalogue
- Year
- 1875
- Dimensions
- 63.5 × 49.9 × 67.3 cm (25 × 18 1/2 × 26 1/2 in.); deck mount/post: 69.3 × 25.4 × 31.8 cm (27 1/4 × 10 × 12 1/2 in.)
- Collection
- Art Institute of Chicago
More
More by this artist
Panel
1934 · Raffia, plain weave; with drawnwork embroidered in overcast stitches; pulled thread work embroidered in buttonhole stitches; and embroidered in stem stitches; three panels pieced
Double Panel
1925 · Raffia, plain weave; embroidered in running stitches cut to form pile; couching; two panels joined
Panel
1925 · Raffia, plain weave; embroidered with raffia in stem stitches and running stitches cut to form pile
Panel
1925 · Raffia, plain weave; embroidered with raffia in stem stitches and running stitches cut to form pile
Panel
1925 · Raffia, plain weave; embroidered with raffia in stem stitches and running stitches cut to form pile
Panel
1925 · Raffia, plain weave; embroidered with raffia in stem stitches and running stitches cut to form pile; couching
Record
Verified by WattsOS- Year
- 1875
- Dimensions
- 63.5 × 49.9 × 67.3 cm (25 × 18 1/2 × 26 1/2 in.); deck mount/post: 69.3 × 25.4 × 31.8 cm (27 1/4 × 10 × 12 1/2 in.)
- Watts ID
- WW-1875-015471
Source
- Collection
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Source
- aic
- Reference
- View at source
- Status
- verified