Mask

CultureSundi or Yombe

Dateearly 20th century

MediumWood, pigment

DimensionsOverall: 11 3/4 × 7 × 4 1/2 inches (29.85 × 17.78 × 11.43 cm)

Credit LineGift of the Tranin Family from the collection of Donald H. Tranin

Object number2014.20.2

On View

Not on view

Collections

African Art

Terms

DescriptionThe acquisition is a white-faced mask depicting a woman with a black hairdo and thick eyebrows. Its perforated pupils and open mouth with teeth gives it a very naturalistic look. It is also unusual that this mask has a neck with an ornamental choker.Provenance

Provenance

With Jacques R. Van Overstraeten (b. 1954), Brussels, Belgium, by 2000;

Purchased from Van Overstraeten by the dealer Marc Leo Félix, Brussels, Belgium, no. FX000401, by November 2000 [1];

Purchased from Félix by Donald (1927-2007) and Sally (1930-2017) Tranin, no. 222, Kansas City, MO, December 5, 2000;

By descent to their son, Ed Tranin, Leawood, KS, and their daughter, Laura Tranin, Seattle, WA, by 2014 [2];

Their gift to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, MO, 2014.

NOTES:

[1] According to Marc Leo Félix, in documentation provided at the time of the object’s purchase, NAMA curatorial files, Félix bought this mask from Van Overstraeten at the Salon d’Art Tribal, Paris 2000.

[2] This object was offered by the Tranins as lot 92 in Art d’Afrique, d’Océanie et d’Amérique du Nord, Christie’s Paris, December 10, 2013, but failed to sell.

Published References

Art d’Afrique, d’Océanie et d’Amerique du Nord (Paris: Christie’s, 2013), 96, (repro.).

Information about a particular artwork or image, including provenance information, is based upon historic information and may not be currently accurate or complete. Research on artwork and images is an ongoing process, and the information about a particular artwork or image may not reflect the most current information available to the Museum. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about a particular artwork or image, please e-mail provenance@nelson-atkins.org.