Mask - Chokwe - Angola - Expressive (No reserve price)

Expressive Chokwe mask – Angola / DR Congo – 35 cm

Large and impressive wooden mask from the Chokwe cultural area in southern Central Africa, height about 35 cm and width about 16 cm.

The mask features a long, finely modeled face with a high, arched forehead, narrow eye openings, strongly worked-out nose, and a plastically protruding mouth. Particularly striking are the carefully incised geometric scar and jewelry motifs on the forehead and cheeks, which give the face an extraordinarily lively graphic structure.

Above the face rises an intricately carved hairstyle or head covering with several plastically segmented elements. The combination of the tall forehead, the complex headpiece, and the narrow facial form creates an elegant, at the same time very powerful silhouette.

Especially appealing is the dark, deep brown to almost black surface of the wood. It shows different gloss levels, wear, and a lively surface texture. In the recesses of the carving, darker deposits have persisted, further highlighting the sculptural modeling.

The back is also remarkable. The inner surface shows clear signs of work and smoothing as well as changes to the surface. Surrounding drill holes at the edge of the mask served to attach a costume or other materials.

The mask, with its height of 35 cm, pronounced relief carving, and complex head adornment, has a decidedly strong sculptural presence and is also very striking when viewed from the side.

Height: approx. 350 mm
Width: approx. 160 mm
Material: wood
Cultural area: Chokwe
Region: Angola / DR Congo