CARVED WOOD MASK - from SUEZYT

THIS IS A FABULOUS CHOKWE CARVED WOOD FEMALE MASK (PW0)

THAT REPRESENTS THE CHOKWE FOUNDING FEMALE ANCESTOR,

AND IDEAL FEMININE BEAUTY, FROM ANGOLA OR

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

THE ELEGANT FEATURES - SLITTED EYES UNDER ARCHING BROWS,

TINY NOSE AND FLATTENED LIPS EXPOSING FILED TEETH

ARE CLASSIC, AS IS ELABORATE GRASS HAIR

THE FEMALE MASK, CALLED PWO, A CLASSIC CHOKWE MASK GENRE

THAT HONOURS FEMALE ANCESTORS

IS ESPECIALLY SIGNIFICANT GIVEN THAT THE CHOKWE

TRACE DECENT THROUGH THEIR MOTHER'S LINES

THIS MASK CELEBRATES THE CONCLUSION OF THE

INITIATION PROCESS FROM BOYHOOD TO MANHOOD

THE CRUCIFORM ON THE FOREHEAD IS A COSMOGRAM

WHILE THE MARKINGS ON THE CHEEKS REPRESENT TEARS

OF PRIDE AND SORROW

MADE FROM WOOD, FIBER, PIGMENT AND BRASS

IT DATES PROBABLY TO THE EARLY 20th CENTURY.

A UNIQUE MASK AND A GREAT AFRICAN COLLECTABLE

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