Picked this up at an estate sale. The previous owners must have been to the Congo multiple times they had the other Yaka mask. They also had various other African artifacts, vases, baskets and art. Just wanting to know the value and what year or background it has. Looks like it has the holes for mounting the rest of the ceremonial dress and like it has been worn because of the wear on the top.
15”x11”x10 deep
Hello, this item is a Holo mask from the Democratic Republic of Congo, traditionally used in ceremonial and ritual contexts by the Holo people. These masks are characterized by geometric features, elongated noses, and raffia fiber additions, as seen in your example. The carved detailing with red pigmentation and black patination is typical of Central African mask-making traditions. The presence of mounting holes and wear at the top suggest it may have been used in performance rather than being purely decorative.
The condition appears stable, with age-consistent wear and preserved raffia fibers. Authentic, used masks from the Congo, especially Holo and Yaka, are collected widely for their cultural and artistic value. In the current market, authentic mid-20th century examples often range from 600 to 1,200 USD.