PUNU WHITE FACED MAIDEN WOODEN SPIRIT MASK FROM THE ZAIRE GABON RAINFOREST PEOPLE

AN AFRICAN TRIBAL GABON ANCESTRAL PUNU HAND CARVED WOODEN MAIDEN MASK.

Many Punu masks like ours have an oriental expression and are handcarved out of wood and set in the colors of White and black. The Punu masks oriental look strongly indicates that Chinese people traded and lived in Africa for many years before the European settlers arrived.

Each mask is an "original" work of art, individually hand carved out of a single piece of wood, no two are exactly alike which adds to the value of each piece. The original nature of tribal art will be reflected by variances from the mask as shown, each piece of a specific style is similar, but not identical.
 
OUR PUNU MASK HAS DIAMOND SCARIFICATION ON THE FOREHEAD BUT NOT IN THE USUAL 9 SEGMENTED PATTERN. ARCHED BROWS AND SMALL SLIT EYES AND SMALL EARS AS IN THE NORMAL PUNU MASKS. AN ELABORATE BACK ARCHING HAIRSTYLE AS IS THE NORM.

I THINK JUDGING BY ITS NON THREATENING NATURE AND PORTRUDING LIPS AND HAIRSTYLE THAT THIS IS A FEMALE PUNU MASK.

TIPICAL PUNU MASKS:
1. Punu masks represents the spirit of an ancestor and is commonly found throughout western and central Gabon. The white face represents the soul of an ancestor. Was used at the burial ceremonies of the Puno society.
2. The Punu reside on the left bank of the Upper Ngoume River (Gabon)and belong to the group of tribes known as Shira which were originally part of the Luango kingdom of Angola.
3. Compared stylistically to Japanese or Chinese art, the masks are typically oval in shape, with narrowed eyes, arched eyebrows and small ears. Although the mask has an Asian expression, no such connection has been established.
4. The male masks (ikwar) tend to be brown and black pigment over white koalin and viewed as ugly and are shown at night whilst the masks for females (mukudj) tend to be lighter and considered prettier by the locals and are shown in the day. The Okuyi (or mokuyi) white-faced dancing masks commonly contain nine scale-like diamond patterns on the forehead. This is said to be a "central eye" and also a flowering tree. The white color, usually derived from koalin represents clarity, light, and beauty.

SIZE: 32CM HIGH 16CM WIDE 15CM DEEP
CONDITION: A CHIP TO ONE EAR. NO CRACKS. IN GOOD CONDITION.
 
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