Helmet mask Early 18th century Kuba peoples, Ngeende group This imposing helmet mask in wood represents the head of a male dignitary. The master carver responsible for this powerful creation experimented with the expression of the heads volume, angling it backwards at a 45° angle. Every element in the definition of the facial features and hair emphasize this dynamic approach. Deeply set under a bulging forehead, the narrow eyes are slanted and stretched towards the temples. The tip of the prominent nose points slightly downwards and the nostrils are flared and precisely defined. The angles of the arrow-shaped mouth stretch upwards. As a result, the mouth is parallel to the edge of the beard that defines the lower extremity of the mask. The wide trapezoid forehead is framed by a distinctive coiffure, which both projects backwards and angles back sharply towards the temples. The surface of the mask is intensely textured, from representations of keloids on the temples and forehead, to ro