HEMBA CHIMPANZEE MASK, SO'O
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
African & Oceanic Art, Natural History and Ancient Art
Auction: 30 July 2025 from 14:00 BST
Description
Carved wood figure, exhibiting a hybrid of human and chimpanzee features; the broad grinning smile extends across the entire lower half of the face, set below a long, pointed nose and strong arched brow, rich dark patination throughout, raised on a bespoke mount.
Dimensions
22cm high
Provenance
Private collection, London, United Kingdom, acquired from the below
Frantz Dufour, Galerie Kanem, Paris
Footnote
This mask is known as so'o, meaning "human chimpanzee." It features a human-like face combined with a chimpanzee's mouth. Among the Hemba, so'o is regarded as a disturbing, unnatural being symbolising death. The mask appears at the final stage of an extended series of funeral rites, marking the end of the mourning period.