Female Mask

between 1900 and 1925

Makonde, African

Not On View

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About the Artwork

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Markings

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Provenance

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Exhibition History

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Published References

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Catalogue Raisonné

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Credit Line for Reproduction

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About the Artwork

The Makonde wear masks for two important dance ceremonies: the mapiko, which is associated with the initiation of men and women into adulthood, and the ngoma, which is a ceremony instructing youths about the responsibilities of marriage and adult family life. The ovoid-shaped mask is painted red to represent skin. Although the white lip labret designates this as a female mask, it can only be worn by a man, although it could be used in either ceremony.

Title Female Mask

Artwork Date between 1900 and 1925

Artist ----------

Life Dates ----------

Nationality Please note: Definitions for nationality may vary significantly, depending on chronology and world events. Some definitions include: Belonging to a people having a common origin based on a geography and/or descent and/or tradition and/or culture and/or religion and/or language, or sharing membership in a legally defined nation. African

Culture Please note: Cultures may be defined by the language, customs, religious beliefs, social norms, and material traits of a group. Makonde

Medium Wood and polychrome

Dimensions Overall: 8 1/2 × 6 1/4 inches (21.6 × 15.9 cm)

Classification Sculpture

Department African Art

Credit Founders Society Purchase, Ralph Harman Booth Bequest Fund, Abraham Borman Family Fund, and the Joseph H. Boyer Memorial Fund

Accession Number This unique number is assigned to an individual artwork as part of the cataloguing process at the time of entry into the permanent collection. Most frequently, accession numbers begin with the year in which the artwork entered the museum’s holdings. For example, 2008.3 refers to the year of acquisition and notes that it was the 3rd of that year. The DIA has a few additional systems—no longer assigned—that identify specific donors or museum patronage groups. 80.19

Markings

Inscriptions ------

Provenance

Harry A. Franklin Gallery (Woodland Hills, Michigan, USA)

1980-present, purchase by the Detroit Institute of Arts (Detroit, Michigan, USA)

For more information on provenance and its important function in the museum, please visit:

Provenance page

Exhibition History

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The exhibition history of a number of objects in our collection only begins after their acquisition by the museum, and may reflect an incomplete record.

We welcome your feedback for correction and/or improvement.

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Published References

Franz, M. L. "Traditional Masks and Figures of the Makonde," African Arts, vol. 3, no. 1 (1969): pp 42-45.

Holy, L. Masks and Figures for Eastern and Southern Africa. London, 1967, pp. 29-31.

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Catalogue Raisoneé

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Credit Line for Reproduction

Makonde, African, Female Mask, between 1900 and 1925, wood and polychrome. Detroit Institute of Arts, Founders Society Purchase, Ralph Harman Booth Bequest Fund, Abraham Borman Family Fund, and the Joseph H. Boyer Memorial Fund, 80.19.