A very rare and ancient mask with a face sculpted in the shape of a concave heart, characteristic of Kwese masks, the finest example of which is undoubtedly the famous Kwese mask from the former Willy Mestach collection, published and exhibited on numerous occasions. We know of another from the former Gaston De Havenon collection pictured in Marc Felix's indispensable 100 People of Zaire and Their Sculpture. See : Utotombo, Palais des Beaux-Arts, Brussels, 1988, p. 216, no. 186 Kwese (Pende area), Democratic Republic of the Congo Wood, nails and iron, black pigment and white remnants, beautiful old oxidation of the wood and patina of use. H. 22.5 cm Provenance : David Henrion Collection, Brussels