Miniature Male Pende Figure Congo

The Pende, like most of the art-producing cultures from the western Congo, have a rich artisitic tradition and have produced many masterpieces found in galleries and museums. The Pende are known for their artistic forms ranging from house decorations, figural sculptures, numerous carved ivory pendants, to a wide variety of masks. They are perhaps best known for their "mbuya" initiation masks, and the exquisite little ivory masquettes known as "ikhoko" given to newly initiated boys, which are worn and treasured for life.

WK1017