This type of mask, ‘Mwana pwo’, depicts a ‘beautiful girl’ or an important older ancestor – that is, female creatures who come from the afterlife on benevolent visitation of the living. The mask is ‘danced’ on stilts by men in tightly plaited costumes.
The present, unusual mask is carved from very hard wood and coloured blackish-brown on the front side. With the typical ‘Cingelyengelye’ tribal mark (a sort of ‘Maltese cross’) on the forehead, carved in relief. Under a hairstyle carved out from the same piece consisting of five crests. And above a vertical, double relief row as decorative scar ornament. The eyebrows are in relief and splayed, while the almond-shaped eyes are slit. Under both eyes are again vertical decorative scars, called ‘tears’. The small, fine nose displays a recessed middle line, above an open mouth with both rows of teeth (originally coloured white). On the chin there is another double row of decorative scarification marks. This ‘Pwo mask’ is additionally richly embellished with ornaments and attachments: copper rings adorn the transverse head crest of the hairstyle on the crown of the head. On both ears hang double copper spirals as earrings, and the cheeks are decorated with old ornamental brass nails. The powerful ‘hairstyle’, with braid hanging on the back, and the ‘beard’ bound into holes around the chin, consist of plaited, twisted and freely hanging plant fibres, decorated with rows of seed capsules. On the inside of the mask (at the bottom) are remains of the fibrous net which the dancer pulled over his head before his performance, in order that the mask ‘sat’ firmly. Overall a very complete piece, with colour scuffing to exposed areas and edges, as well as with minimal, old cracks to the left eyebrow and to the chin. Otherwise no damage.
Wth a good, old shiny and usage patina on the outside as well as on the inside, where the forehead, nose, cheeks and chin of the mask dancers rubbed against it for a long time. There is an inventory number, in white letters, on the main crest of the hairstyle above.
Height: 23 cm (the mask alone); width: 17 cm (mask).
First third of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance:
South African private collection.

Lit.:
‘Chokwe!’ by Manuel Jordan, ill. 60, 61, 62, 63, 68; ‘Escultura Angolana’ by Marie-Louise Bastin, ill. 163.