Chokwe Maskette, Angola

mwana pwo
height 7 1/2in (19cm)

Provenance
Saul and Marsha Stanoff Collection, California
Peter Wengraf, The Arcade Gallery, London
Aguedo Hernandez Herrero Collection, Mexico City, acquired from the above in November 1983
Thence by descent

Of diminutive size with protruding open mouth revealing upper and lower teeth highlighted with kaolin; broad, slit eyes sunken under arching brows; a stylized coiffure above the forehead highlighted with three metal tacks; two others inset on each cheek below the temples; spiraling metal string earrings in each ear; the upper rim in back pierced through; fine dark, reddish brown encrusted patina.