Mask "mwana pwo" ·  D. R. Congo, Chokwe · ID: 3034462

Description

wood, shiny reddish brown patina, black paint, of oval form with tribe-typical facial features and scarification marks, pierced around the rim, slight traces of abrasion, metal base;
depicting a female ancestor, whereupon the Chokwe distinguish two characters: “pwo”, a mature, adult woman and “mwana pwo”, the younger female. Masks with few scarification details are more often said to represent the younger character.

The object Mask “mwana pwo” with the object ID 3034462 was last part of the auction 72nd tribal art auction at March 9, 2013 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 420 achieved a sales price of EUR 2,700.

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Comparing literature

Wastiau, Boris, Visions of Africa: Chokwe, Mailand 2006, pl. 64