Lot: 246

Male helmet mask "lipiko" (pl. "mapiko")

Mozambique, Makonde

Provenance Size Starting price / estimated price
Werner Kißling (1952-2020), Heltersberg, Germany H: 8.5 inch 2000 EUR / 5000 EUR

wood, red colour, black mass, human hair, crack

The making and performance of the "mapiko" helmet masks play a significant role in the social and religious life of the Makonde.

According to Fenzl, the mask dancer could represent a deceased but also a living person.

The masks are characterised by a strikingly realistic style of representation.


Fenzl, Kristian, Makonde, Linz 1997, p. 41 ff.