Small pendants of this type replicate larger masks (mbuya) carved for circumcision ceremonies and serve to reinforce the protective effects, proving that the wearer has successfully passed through initiation rites. Traditional elements of Pende mbuya masks are repeated here—hooded eyes, bulging forehead, continuous eyebrow line, a scooped nose, and a distinctive headdress. The circle-and-dot motif is part of the surface design of ghikhokho. The most highly prized pendants were carved of ivory, but they could also be made from bone, bronze, wood, or more recently, aluminum.
Provenance
Purchased by Lee Bronson, c .1970s, Belgium; gift to LACMA 1995.
