Mask - Beads, Cowry, Plant fibre, Wood, Pigments - Punu - Gabon - 33 cm

A beautiful Okuyi mourning mask, in this case a female one, made by the Punu. Punu are one of the more important people living in the inland mountain- and grasslands of Gabon. They trace their lines of descent through the women of the community. As such, female ancestors are venerated. The 'first' female ancestor - the mukaukila or 'first woman' - is honored through sculpture, ceremonies, song and dance. These female Okuyi masks are believed to harness the powers of female ancestors. They are worn and danced in communal rites such as funerals, youth initiations, and births. The mask is made from a light sort of wood. Its high hairstyle, red lips, half closed eyes and bulging eyelids are typical for the Okuyi masks as are the marks on the forehead and temples. Together with the beautiful patina it gives the mask it's stately appearance. provenance: Unpublished piece, first sale, without sales or collection history. - This item comes from a family heritage of a Cameroon tradesman. - This masterpiece was collected in situ around 1990.