A beautiful old mvudi dance mask (duma), with a simple, classic, rather unsophisticated hairstyle in a bun with a shell and two characteristic side braids, whose facial sculpture with its endearing presence, the curvature of the forehead and the subtly taut, curved lines of its volumes bear witness to the beauty and uniqueness of Tsangui mvudi masks, rightly described by the eminent Charlotte Grand-Dufay as "among the most beautiful white masks" in her article dedicated (Tribal Art no. 94) to these much rarer masks of the Tsangui, who lived in the deep forest, than the Okuji masks of the Punu and Lumbu of the coast, as evidenced by the one from the collection of Mr. V., acquired from Stéphanus Grusier. acquired from Stéphanus Grusenmeyer, a tasteful antique dealer. See : Grand-Dufay, "Les masques Tsangui", Tribal Art, Winter 2019, n° 94 Tsangui, Republic of Congo Late 19th or early 20th century Wood, kaolin, remnants of ochre polychromy, visible age wear, a small visible accident (blow) to the forehead, beautiful age oxidation of the wood and old patina from use. H. 27.5 cm Provenance : Stephanus Grusenmeyer, Brussels Collection Monsieur V., Brussels, acquired from him in June 1987