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LOT 34355393

Pwo female mask - Chokwe - Angola

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Height: 20 cm / 7. 8 in Origin: Private collection, Belgium - provenance information will be provided to the buyer. Galerie Gaunt Tribal Art, United Kingdom, ref SQ4985126 Dating: 1940's The face has thick, arched eyebrows on bulbous eyes that are half closed. The nose is long and fine with nostrils flared to the end. The mouth is open and has fleshy lips and rows of teeth. On the cheeks and forehead are marks of scarification. Small ears have earrings at the base of the lobes. On the side of the mask are a series of holes to fix a raffia beard. The original name of Chokwe (pwo) referred to an adult woman who had given birth. The most recent name, mwana pwo, probably adopted under European influence, emphasizes young and feminine beauty. These masks honor the founding ancestors. Such representations are particularly important since the Chokwe trace the descent through the lines of their mothers. Pwo's joint performance with his male counterpart, Cihongo, brings fertility and prosperity to a community. The patterns on the forehead and cheeks of the mask are classic graphic designs that have aesthetically enhanced the beauty of a woman in past generations and have been signs of ethnic identity. The central cruciform on the forehead has been interpreted as a cosmogram while the marks on each cheek are believed to represent tears. Chokwe masks are often performed during celebrations that mark the end of initiation into adulthood. This occasion also marks the dissolution of the bonds of intimacy between the mothers and their sons. The pride and sorrow that this event represents for Chokwe women is evoked by the teardrop motif. Shipping within 24 working hours Tracking number included Delivery against signature Tags: mask, statue, sculpture, figure, figurine, wood, art, france, belgium, netherlands, usa, dogon, contemporary, first, primitive, tribal, african, antiquity, work, gallery, picasso, giacometti, galerie d art, African art, cubism

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02 Jul 2020
Belgium
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Height: 20 cm / 7. 8 in Origin: Private collection, Belgium - provenance information will be provided to the buyer. Galerie Gaunt Tribal Art, United Kingdom, ref SQ4985126 Dating: 1940's The face has thick, arched eyebrows on bulbous eyes that are half closed. The nose is long and fine with nostrils flared to the end. The mouth is open and has fleshy lips and rows of teeth. On the cheeks and forehead are marks of scarification. Small ears have earrings at the base of the lobes. On the side of the mask are a series of holes to fix a raffia beard. The original name of Chokwe (pwo) referred to an adult woman who had given birth. The most recent name, mwana pwo, probably adopted under European influence, emphasizes young and feminine beauty. These masks honor the founding ancestors. Such representations are particularly important since the Chokwe trace the descent through the lines of their mothers. Pwo's joint performance with his male counterpart, Cihongo, brings fertility and prosperity to a community. The patterns on the forehead and cheeks of the mask are classic graphic designs that have aesthetically enhanced the beauty of a woman in past generations and have been signs of ethnic identity. The central cruciform on the forehead has been interpreted as a cosmogram while the marks on each cheek are believed to represent tears. Chokwe masks are often performed during celebrations that mark the end of initiation into adulthood. This occasion also marks the dissolution of the bonds of intimacy between the mothers and their sons. The pride and sorrow that this event represents for Chokwe women is evoked by the teardrop motif. Shipping within 24 working hours Tracking number included Delivery against signature Tags: mask, statue, sculpture, figure, figurine, wood, art, france, belgium, netherlands, usa, dogon, contemporary, first, primitive, tribal, african, antiquity, work, gallery, picasso, giacometti, galerie d art, African art, cubism

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Time, Location
02 Jul 2020
Belgium
Auction House
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