This mask type of the Punu, called ‘Okuyi’ or ‘Mukudji’, represents a ‘beautiful girl’ coming to the living from the afterlife to pay a benevolent visit. ‘Okuyi masks’ were always carved in lightweight, light-coloured wood. Her face is coloured in white (using kaolin), her hairstyle is mostly black. The mouth and the typical tribal scarification marks on the forehead and both temples (mostly nine lozenges and rectangles) were generally coloured in red tones. These masks were worn by costumed dancers on stilts of up to two metres, at feasts and markets of the Punu. The present, old ‘Okuyi mask’ represents the ‘classic’ type: made of light-coloured, very lightweight wood. With the characteristic slit eyes, reminiscent of Japanese No masks (with which they have nothing to do). The black hairstyle, executed in extremely fine lines, has two crests (with a sort of central parting) and one plait on each side. Over the uncoloured, wide neck, the mask costume was pulled and attached. A visibly old piece that has often ‘danced’. With very good usage patina front and back (inside), as well as only minor age damage: colour scuffing and lightly chipped on exposed areas (forehead, eyes, nose, cheekbones, and on the inner border). H: 27 cm; W: 21 cm. First third to half 20th century. (ME)

Provenance: Private Collection, Paris; currently: Austrian Private Collection.

Lit.: ‘Punu’ by Louis Perrois & Charlotte Grand-Dufay, fig. 13-20, 43.