Provenance: Important Dutch private collection. Mrs. and Mr. D. Gillissen The objects were collated in the 1970’s till late 1990’s. All were bought from reputable tribal art dealers in Amsterdam (Lemaire; Italiaander Galleries, Kunst-en Antiekhandel J S Becker and Paul Rutten Asiatic and Tribal Art) and France (Expert Arts Primitifs Raoul Lehuard) Yaka Bandundu region, Democratic Republic of the Congo Central Africa Note: It will be professionally packed and safely sent within 3 working days. Shipped with Insurance! In the past, Yaka masks like this example comprising a wooden face with a dome-shaped hairstyle of twigs and cloth appeared in performances marking the end of the male puberty ritual called n-khanda. They embodied the ancestors who watched over fertility and well-being, and celebrated the boys’ reintegration into society as adults after a long period of seclusion at the edge of the village. The masks’ imagery refers to Yaka concepts of cosmogony and sexuality. Important information. The seller guarantees that he is entitled to ship this lot. It will be professionally packed and safely send. Buyers are responsible for import regulation and restrictions of their own country.