Female ancestor spirit mask "pwevo" ·  Zambia, Luchazi · ID: 3045756

Description

wood, plant fibre, seed capsules, glass beads, with abundant coiffure and remains of a costume (net-like knotted bonnet), base

This mask is carved in the style favored by the Luchazi and Luvale in Zambia, and represents their version of the Chokwe’s “pwo” female ancestral character, which they call “pwevo”, meaning woman.

A very similar, well-documented mask collected in a Luchazi village in northwestern Zambia, pictured at Jordán (1998), ill. 66.

The object Female ancestor spirit mask “pwevo” with the object ID 3045756 was last part of the auction 92nd Tribal Art Auction at June 29, 2019 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 253 achieved a sales price of EUR 3,000.

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Comparing literature

Jordán, Manuel (ed.), Chokwe!, München, London, New York 1998, ill. 66