251150 - African Makonde Belly mask with beads - Tanzania.
African Makonde Belly mask - Tanzania.
Size: 51 cm high.
An exceptional Makonde belly mask, hand-carved from local hardwood and delicately adorned with multicolored glass beads. Originating in southern Tanzania, this type of mask is a traditional creation of the Makonde people, renowned for their sculptural art, among the most refined in East Africa.
Unlike face masks, the belly mask is worn on the torso during male and female initiation rites. It symbolizes motherhood, fertility, protection, and spiritual rebirth. The Makonde see it as a sacred link between the body, the earth, and the ancestors.
The fine, multicolored glass beads, applied by hand, form geometric and symbolic patterns on the wood's surface. They represent the wearer's vitality, beauty, and spiritual power. The wood's natural patina, combined with the beads' brilliance, lends this piece a mystical and aesthetic presence. • Origin: Tanzania
- Ethnic group: Makonde
- Type: Ritual belly mask
- Materials: Hand-carved wood, multicolored glass beads