Helmet Mask (Bwoom)
<p>Embellished with cowrie shells, beads, seed pods, copper sheeting, goatskin, and hair, <em>bwoom</em> is one of three types of royal Kuba masks, all of which are treated as embodiments of nature spirits (<em>mingesh</em>). According to one local interpretation, the <em>bwoom</em> mask represents a prince who suffered from a neurological condition that caused his head to swell with accumulated fluid. Another says that <em>bwoom</em> is the image of one of the original Twa (Pygmy) inhabitants of the region. During performances the masks reenact episodes in the foundation of the kingdom.</p>
Catalogue
- Year
- 1875
- Dimensions
- 63.5 × 49.9 × 67.3 cm (25 × 18 1/2 × 26 1/2 in.); deck mount/post: 69.3 × 25.4 × 31.8 cm (27 1/4 × 10 × 12 1/2 in.)
- Collection
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Artist
- Kuba
Artist
Textile
Kuba is a Czech and Japanese surname. In Czech, Kuba is a pet form of the given name Jakub. Notable people with the surname include:Filip Kuba, Czech ice hockey player Gabriela Kubová, Czech ice dancer Ludvík Kuba (1863–1956), Czech artist and musician Martin Kuba, Czech politician Masatomo Kuba, Japanese footballer Paula Kubová, Slovak volleyball player Simona Kubová, Czech swimmer
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Double Panel
1925 · Raffia, plain weave; embroidered in running stitches cut to form pile; couching; two panels joined
Panel
1925 · Raffia, plain weave; embroidered with raffia in stem stitches and running stitches cut to form pile
Panel
1925 · Raffia, plain weave; embroidered with raffia in stem stitches and running stitches cut to form pile
Panel
1925 · Raffia, plain weave; embroidered with raffia in stem stitches and running stitches cut to form pile
Panel
1925 · Raffia, plain weave; embroidered with raffia in stem stitches and running stitches cut to form pile; couching
Record
Verified by WattsOSSource
- Collection
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Source
- aic
- Reference
- View at source
- Status
- verified