Jill Zinn Collection, # 1999.13.1999, 14 artifacts, Nubian of Sudan, Bassa of Liberia, Kuba of Democratic Republic of Congo

This collection includes baskets and plates from Nubia, Sudan; masks from the Kuba of Congo; and masks from the Bassa of Liberia.

E-1999.13.13

(mboom) front and sideviews
This Kuba mask is from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The structure of the mask is made of wood with an outer covering of leather, copper and intricately placed cowrie shells. Diamond-shape designs in red-blue and black-white beading cover the lower portions of the mask. Green beads cover the nose with a decorative center of alternating strips of black and white beads. The black and white beading on this mask accentuates mboom's cheekbones

28 cm high 31 cm long 22 cm wide

3-D View

E-1999.13.01

Bassa-mask

24 cm high 31 cm long 20 cm wide

E-1999.13.02

Bassa-mask

40 cm high 23 cm wide

E-1999.13.09

53 cm diameter

Tabaqs are highly prized in Egypt. They are hung on the walls for decoration. The colorful decoration only appears on the outer shell of tabaqs.

E-1999.13.14

This Kuba mask, elephant Mukenga, is from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The long cylindrical frontal projection represents an elephant's trunk. It is mostly covered in cowrie shells with zones of blue, white, turquoise, red, and black beads. The face is covered with animal fur and bone. Raffia is incorporated at the bottom of the mask.

48 cm high 38 cm long 38 cm wide