One of the very rare Fang masks, of the ‘Asu-nkukh’ type. It has been carved from brown, hard wood and the whole, oval ‘moon-like’ face has a heavy coating of white kaolin chalk (mixed with water).
It has a vertical, grooved line through the middle of the forehead to the wide, flat nose, as well as wide, protruding eyebrow arches. The lower section of the face is slightly concave and curves inwards. Two small, rectangular eyes holes sit in the middle of the face. Two typical Fang tribal symbols are grooved or etched onto both cheeks, below the eyes, (two semicircles each with four upward spikes). The small, open mouth (interrupted) has been dyed black and brown and protrudes, similar to the slightly hollowed chin. The mask has some age-related damage: a crack in the wood on the crown of the head, as well as some peeling of the dry kaolin coating in parts. Otherwise it is in exceptionally good condition. It has a visible, old usage patina on the inside rear and edge of the mask (shiny areas). Very rare. Height: 23 cm; width: 17 cm. First third of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance:
French private collection.

Lit.:
'Die Kunst des schwarzen Afrika' by Kerchache, Paudrat, Stephan, ill. 576; 'Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture' by K.-F. Schädler, ill. p. 231.