Mask "mwana phwevo" · Angola / Zambia, Luena (Luvale) / Luchazi · ID: 3038553
Michael Rhodes, New York, USA
Private Collection, New York, USA
Description
wood, blackish brown patina, abundant coiffure from plant fiber cord with beaded strings, remains of a costume from knotted plant fibre, slightly dam. (mouth, eyes), abrasion of paint, base;
various ethnical groups in the area of the upper Sambesi and the southern Kasai area use the “mwana phwevo” mask type. Its name, “young woman” refers to a mythological female person, who died young, and whose painful loss should be recalled by the masquerade. The masks were danced by men and appear on various festive occasions in order to amuse the village people, especially women, with their charming dances.
The object Mask “mwana phwevo” with the object ID 3038553 was last part of the auction 80th Tribal Art Auction at June 27, 2015 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 504.
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Comparing literature
Hahner-Herzog, Iris, Das Zweite Gesicht, Genf, München, New York 1997, ill. 86