Mask "mwana pwo" - Chokwe - Angola

• "colon" Mwana Pwo Tshokwe mask

• Angola

• Dimensions: 24 × 15 cm

• Period: 1930s

• Materials: hard and dense wood, tukula, kaolin

• Provenance: collection Paulo Akam - Portugal; collection Isi Janssens - Belgium

— Mwana Pwo masks generally have large coffee-bean or almond-shaped eyes, partly closed, a long fine nose, curled ears and flattened, protruding lips framing pointed, filed teeth, here clearly present, and enhanced with kaolin. As for the carved facial motifs, they indicate scarification marks or tattoos received during childhood or adolescence. In these communal male initiations, Pwo masks appear to educate the crowd, entertain them but above all to keep women away from the place where the sacred rites take place. These masked figures are generally perceived as the spirits of the deceased taking on a physical form.

— This Pwo Chokwe mask, from a private Portuguese collection, has undoubtedly been carved by a Songo. (an ethnicity in central Angola linked to the Mbundu major group)
This mask is what is called a "colon" mask, because it did not dance during the Mukanda. But it has been beautifully carved, in a traditional manner by a renowned sculptor active in the first half of the 20th century. (see last photograph).

— A sublime mask whose sculptural quality can be likened to pieces from the world’s leading auction houses and which can command extremely high prices. It is very rare to be able to acquire a piece with such finish at the price offered here.

— Careful and insured delivery with tracking number (Bpost)