In the south of Gabon, the Punu are renowned for their white masks called ‘okuyi’. These white coloured masks represent a ‘beautiful girl’, who comes from the afterlife on a benevolent visit to the living. The white masks are worn during the day by men who stand on two metre high stilts.
The black ‘ikwara masks’ of the Punu have a completely different meaning. They are also called ‘ikwara mokulu’ (‘night masks’). They are carved in very similar style, with the typical, ‘Asian’ looking slit eyes, of lightweight, light-coloured wood and then dyed black with vegetable dyes.
Despite these similarities, these black ‘ikwara masks’ only perform at twilight or at night. They are used in dances on short stilts, at gatherings for the administration of justice or if the Punu society is threatened by ill-fortune, illness, witchcraft or criminality. ‘Ikwara masks’ are supposed to offer protection and divert evil.
The present ‘ikwara mask' is a beautiful example of this type: it wears a high crested coiffure with two pierced projections left and right. On its forehead it has two round decorative scarification marks between the accentuated eyebrows. The ears stand out at the sides and the eyes are ‘typically Punu’, slightly curved, ‘Asiatic’ slits (Punu masks, however, have nothing to do with Japanese ‘No masks’). A short, broad nose above a ‘sensuously’ formed, closed mouth. The relatively small mask face terminates below in a pointed chin. A beautiful, old piece with colour scuffing to exposed areas due to age. Otherwise no damage. With good, old patina (also on the back).
Height: 26 cm; width: 17 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance: Private collection of Bernard Barasch, Chicago; currently: Austrian private collection.

Lit.: ‘Punu’ by Louis Perrois & Charlotte Grand-Dufay, ill. 22, 23, 47.