SONGYE, DRC
Full-size Songye masks were used in public rituals, but miniature versions could be owned by individuals. They were believed to carry protective force (often linked to bwadi bwa kifwebe society power) and help guard against illness, misfortune, or witchcraft. These miniatures were easy to carry, store, or keep in the home, making them useful for everyday spiritual protection rather than public performance.
Small masks were sometimes used to teach initiates about symbolism, rules, and spiritual meanings before they encountered or wore full-size masks. Owning a miniature mask could signal membership, rank, or connection to powerful ritual societies—even when the person wasn’t actively performing. Some miniatures also functioned as votive objects, placed on shrines or used in private rituals.
Shirley Markin Buchman (1921 - 2021), New York and Palm Beach and then by descent to her heirs. Buchman was a noted philanthropist. Buchman acquired most of her African collection in New York in the 1960s and 1970s, buying from JJ Klejman as well as Sotheby’s and Christies. Her father, Morris Markin, founded the Checker Motors Corporation. Checker made the iconic American taxi cab, valued by taxicab companies for its durability in heavy use.
