This unusual mask has been finely crafted by artisans in Zaire from a single piece of the native wood, Mansonia. The natural gray-brown color of the fine-textured grain has organically discolored with brown and black pigments, giving the mask a deeper color. It has been created as a representation of a guru mask in relation to the Kuba tribe found on the Atlantic coastline. The intricate carving of the facial features and patterns have been painted and subtly covered with the white sand of these shores. Such sacred masks are often honored during sacrificial gatherings, reflecting spirits that act as intermediaries between supreme beings and mortals. The mask rests on a sleek iron stand, height measurement includes this stand.