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Ngaady a Mwaash Mask
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, photography credit Joel Benjamin
Ngaady a Mwaash Mask
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, photography credit Joel Benjamin
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Ngaady a Mwaash Mask

Artifact IDMO 63.4416.4
Object Type Mask
Date 20th century
Date Presented8/2/62
Place MadeKasai Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa
Medium Wood, pigment, raffia cloth, cowrie shell, glass beads
DimensionsOverall H 15 1/2 in x W 8 1/2 in x D 6 in (39.4 cm x 21.6 cm x 15.2 cm )

Physical DescriptionHelmet mask made of wood and raffia cloth with a painted face decorated with cowrie shells and glass beads. This mask, covered with geometric designs typical of Kuba art, portrays Ngaady A Mwaash, the wife of the first Kuba king.
Historical NotePresented to the State Department by the Deputy to the National Assembly of the Republic of the Congo, Fwamba Mukengele on August 2, 1962.
Additional Details
Custodial History NoteThis mask was presented to the State Department by the Deputy to the National Assembly of the Republic of the Congo, Fwamba Mukengele on August 2, 1962.
Credit LineJohn F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA; Gift of the Estate of President John F. Kennedy
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedUse Restriction NoteThis material is not subject to any known copyright or other image use restrictions.
Not on view