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A Chokwe mask, Angola. This is a Pwo mask. Its purpose is to…
Lot No.
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Description:
A Chokwe mask, Angola. This is a Pwo mask. Its purpose is to honour ancestral women of the Chowke. The mask is worn by males during dances and will spread fertility where it is worn. Carved from a hardwood, the mask depicts an idealised form of beauty to the Chokwe. The mask has been expertly carved with the brow and eyelids creating a heart shape that frames the delicate facial features. The almond shaped eyes have small slits for the wearer to see through, the nose is thin with a peaked ridge running down its length. The mouth is open with exposed filed teeth as is common with Pwo masks. The forehead has an inscribed symbol that is prominent in Pwo masks, said to depict a cosmogram. The cheeks also feature incised designs that represent scarfication. Observable abrasions to the fabric of the headdress and hair suggest some age to the piece as well as its heavy use. Mask height 23 cm, width 23 cm, depth 22 cm, on stand height 36 cm. Provenance: Lim-Strutt collection, Aotearoa
Estimate:
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Price:
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Category:
Unclassified